What Makes Chronic Pain Hurt So Much

1. What Makes Chronic Pain Hurt So Much? medium.com/@sowmyasrinivasan001/what-makes-chronic-pain-hurt-so-much-5fd36113360d Those suffering from severe chronic back pain understand how much it can affect and disrupt one’s daily life. Back pain that is chronic can be debilitating, making it impossible to take pleasure in even the most simple routine activities or to follow exercises routine. Chronic pain hasn’t been always recognized. Medical professionals believed that it was always the manifestation of a condition or injury. Doctors concentrated on treating the root of the pain. They had the notion that the pain would go away after the disease or injury was fixed. If there was no root cause to be determined and the patient was informed that very few treatment options are available, or even worse — the pain must be psychological. Certain doctors do not understand chronic pain, the latest theories on chronic pain, and the numerous factors that can contribute to chronic pain severity. How Pain Affects the Brain The medical profession is beginning to realize that if the pain is no longer part of a functioning nervous system, the ongoing pain becomes the cause. 1/2

2. The latest neuroimaging techniques have shown that chronic pain — unlike acute or temporary pain, can cause neurological changes which can increase the possibility of developing cognitive issues in addition to depression and anxiety. Additionally, studies of brain physiology have demonstrated that the central nervous system’s functions can alter based upon the experiences of a person. Medical treatments and health issues such as depression and anxiety may be involved with these modifications. Pain May Not Be Recognized Although a fractured leg can be verified by an X-ray, and a leg infection can be identified with a blood test that can determine the number of white blood cells, however, there is no medical test that can measure the intensity of pain. This is why many sufferers of chronic pain travel from one doctor to another seeking explanations. This can result in unnecessary tests and treatment. Another issue with getting treatment is that everyone feels and expresses their pain in different ways. Two people who have the same injury may be able to feel and display their pain in different ways, based on a range of elements, such as: The conditions under which pain manifests The thoughts of chronic pain like “this is nothing serious” in contrast to “this pain could kill me” The emotions associated with chronic pain include depression, anxiety. These are compared to optimism and hopefulness. Cultural influences can lead someone to be more reserved or more dramatic when expressing hurt to other people It is true that suffering does exist, contrary to what many people believe. It may sound simple, but people suffering from chronic pain may be dismissed as if their pain is a myth or exaggerated. In certain instances, patients feel that they need to prove that their chronic pain to relatives, friends, and even their doctors. Certain patients are informed by their doctors that there is no cause for the pain that is ongoing and, therefore “it cannot be that bad.” 2/2