How to live with CHRONIC PAIN
Everything you need to know about the condition that affects one in five Aussies
Chronic pain is a condition that can affect anyone, it doesn't discriminate and can disrupt any part of your body – your legs, back, neck, jaw... anything.
“It could be caused by an injury that doesn't heal completely, it may accompany a chronic condition that progressively causes damage such as arthritis, or it may be caused by changes in the way our bodies respond to pain,” says Chronic Pain Australia (CPA) president Dr Coralie Wales.
HOW IS CHRONIC PAIN DIFFERENT FROM ‘NORMAL’ PAIN?
“Chronic pain is any pain experienced by a person that lasts longer than would normally be expected,” adds Dr Wales.
Unfortunately, chronic pain is often dismissed due to the lack of medical evidence associated with it.
“Sometimes chronic pain can be ‘medically unexplained', which is incredibly frustrating for anyone experiencing it,” says pharmacist and CPA board member Jarrod Mcmaugh.
“This doesn't mean that it doesn't exist, however medical diagnostic technology is not sophisticated enough to see the changes in the brain that indicate that pain is present.”
So can you cure the condition? How do you manage it? What don't we know that we should? Dr Wales and Jarrod answer all the frequently asked questions so we can better understand it all and support those suffering.
Curing chronic pain
By definition, it simply isn't something that can be cured, according to Dr Wales.
“Just like other chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, or mental health, there is no treatment or solution that will ‘fix' the condition,” she says.
“Chronic pain requires ongoing management. While medication may be a part of this management, it should only have a supportive role to other therapies. The aim of treatment for chronic pain is to get to the best possible reduction in pain, while understanding that it may not be possible to be pain-free.”
Management techniques
While there's no permanent fix for chronic pain, it can be manageable. What should people who are suffering do to ease their discomfort?
First, it's important to understand there's no one size fits all approach, says Jarrod. “What works for some people may not work for others,” he explains.
Figuring out emotional and mental triggers and coming up with management strategies is one way that can drastically improve your experience with chronic pain.
“There are many other different treatments, most commonly physiotherapy, to help stay active and move as normally as possible,” adds Jarrod.
“Counselling is also beneficial as it helps people understand how to cope with the changes that pain brings. Most important is for people in pain to learn to do less than what they think they can do every day – a technique called ‘pacing' that which leads to overall improvements over time.”
How to help someone you love
If a friend or family member has chronic pain, first, do your research!
“Find out as much as you can about the physiology that explains chronic pain. This helps an understanding of symptoms and experiences,” says Jarrod.
“Second, don't take over all activities for your loved one. Have a conversation about what your loved one feels they can and can't do. Losing your independence is really difficult. Third, be a part of the team if your loved one is being supported by a pain team. Last of all, laugh and love whenever possible. It's actually helpful for chronic pain because it's anti-inflammatory!” For more resources, infomation and support (including a free 24/7 online forum), visit Chronic Pain Australia chronicpainaustralia.org.au