Coping With Chronic Pain: You Have a Choice!

Chronic pain is almost always a challenge to manage. It’s an insidious problem that permeates many aspects of an individual’s life including work, relationships, and daily quality of life. If left untreated, the physical and emotional stressors of chronic pain can be overwhelming. Many wonder how pain that is strictly physical could grow to include pain that is also emotional, impacting so many different parts of a person’s life. It’s important to take into account the fact that a multitude of factors play a role in an individual’s emotional and psychological response to pain. 

What determines a person’s response to chronic pain?
Our individual experience of pain is determined by our age, gender, culture, ethnicity, spiritual beliefs, socio-economic status, emotional disposition, and support system. Additionally, our perception of chronic pain is dependent on what life was like before the onset of chronic pain. Naturally, the more chronic pain impedes our ability to perform the tasks we are accustomed to doing, the more upsetting the experience of pain becomes. 

How did I get caught in the pain cycle?
When we experience illness or injury that results in pain, many of us find ourselves stuck in what is known as the “pain cycle.” The pain cycle is a series of repetitious events surrounding chronic pain that continue to diminish our quality of life, rather than helping us to heal. How does the cycle work? First, we become injured or ill, which causes us significant pain. Such pain leads to considerable life changes such as reduced activity, social exclusion, poor work performance, and lower self-esteem. It is at this point that we have the choice to break the cycle by seeking help. If we do not do so, the negative cycle continues and leads to problems such as anxiety and increased stress, which then results in persistent tension and pain and the prevention of healing.

How can I break the cycle?
Once chronic pain begins to negatively impact your life, you have the choice to seek treatment. A number of different treatment options exist for individuals with chronic pain, many of which are offered at Staszak Physical Therapy & Wellness Center. Massage therapy, physical therapy, acupuncture, and clean eating are all effective healing methods for people suffering from all kinds of chronic pain. To initiate the healing process, we encourage you to try different treatment methods and choose one that best alleviates your pain. Soon, you will experience positive life changes such as increased activity, improved attitude, and reduced stress and anxiety. 

If you are struggling to manage your chronic pain, break the cycle by calling Staszak Physical Therapy & Wellness Center today at (541) 505-8180. 

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