Chronic Pain

Chronic Pain Explained:

Chronic pain syndromes often manifest as neuropathic pain from the musculoskeletal system. Neuropathic pain is a debilitating form of chronic pain that results from peripheral or central nervous system damage. When the damage is peripheral in nature, it is often referred to as nerve pain, sensory peripheral neuropathy, or peripheral neuritis.

Neuropathic pain is really a disease caused by malfunctioning nerves. Types of neuropathic pain include pain that radiates down the leg or arm or follows and persists after back surgery or other procedures.

Even the lightest touch can set off a sharp or shock-like shooting pain in people with neuropathic pain, who often complain of symptoms, such as unrelenting numbness, tingling, weakness, or burning or cold sensations.

Signs of Chronic Pain:

  • Pain beyond six months after an injury
  • Allodynia—pain from stimuli which are not normally painful and/or pain that occurs other than in the stimulated area
  • Hyperpathia—increased pain from stimuli that are normally painful
  • Hypersensation—being overly sensitive to pain

Left untreated, neuropathic pain can lead to a host of other problems, including but not limited to anxiety, insomnia, depression, and withdrawal.

Chiropractors are often a "last resort" for many individuals with chronic pain, after already exhuasting imaging procedures and medications. Chiropractic care provides strong mechanoreceptor feedback to the brain, which has a strong calming effect on the nervous system. Chiropractic care focuses on restoring homeostasis to the nervous system and breaking the hypersensitivity neuro-chemical loop responses from the brain to the central and peripheral nervous system. This allows the healing process to begin.

Depression is the most common emotion associated with crhonic pain. It has been documented to be 3-4 times more common in people with chronic pain compared to the general population. Furthermore, as high as 80% of people with chronic pain have some type of depression. The combination of chronic pain and depression makes a cycle of discomfort. Treatment in order to improve mobility can help start the path to healing.

Interested in learning more about chronic pain treatment options from Advanced Physical Health?
Call our Columbia, MO office at (573) 446-2242 for more information.

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