Chronic Pain Management Plans - Chronic Pain Help

What is it?

Chronic pain is pain that is ongoing and that has lasted for 3 months or longer, even once the original injury or cause has fully resolved. It is also known commonly as persistent pain, fibromyalgia, neuropathic pain, somatoform/somatosensory disorder and complex regional pain syndrome.

Like many illnesses, chronic pain can affect the whole body. It can impact your skin, immune system, heart and lungs, the gut, musculoskeletal system, and the nervous system.

The primary symptom is generally all body pain with associated fatigue and mental health issues. There are conditions such as Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), where the chronic pain is more localised to a joint (such as the wrist or ankle).

Pain is complex; it can manifest in many ways because neuroplastic changes occur within the brain and nervous system making the body more sensitive to pain and can create sensations of pain even without ongoing damage. For example, people can feel pain from a breeze or clothes touching their skin. This is called pain sensitisation.

Symptoms we address

Numbness
Piercing type pain
Pins and Needles
Bone pain
Throbbing pain
Referred pain
Burning sensations
Sharp pain
Muscular pain
Dull Ache
Arthritic Pain
Sleep issues
Back pain
Fatigue
Pulsating type pain
Brain fog
Poor appetite
Phantom pain
Post-cancer pain
Neuropathic pain
Neck pain
Migraines
Joint pain

Secondary symptoms/conditions:

Hypersensitivity to weather changes and light touch
Issues with weight regulation
Recurrent flu-like symptoms
Cognitive issues: short term memory loss, poor concentration, ‘brain fog’, hypersensitivity to light and sound
Stress, Anxiety, Depression, Anger, Helplessness
Sleep issues

Causes

Often, it is following an injury or extreme trauma, and worsened by emotions like stress, anxiety, frustration, and helplessness. Some people experience a gradual onset of pain with no initial injury or illness. There is now emerging research to support genetic factors may also be involved.

The longer pain remains untreated, the greater the risk of the body becoming sensitised to pain and the pain becoming chronic. Therefore, seeing an experienced chronic pain specialist in the early stages is recommended – give yourself the best change of not getting chronic pain!

Who gets it

Research suggests that 1 in 5 of us has chronic pain. It affects men, women and children of all ages, cultures and socio-economic backgrounds. The challenge is that it is unpredictable and is personal. No two people will ever feel the same pain.

One in five GP consultations involves a patient with chronic pain and almost five percent report severe, debilitating chronic pain. It is estimated that less than 10% of people with chronic *non-cancer) pain gain access to effective care, despite current knowledge would allow 80% to be treated effectively, if there was adequate access to quality pain services.

Chronic pain is the most common reason people of working age drop out of the workforce —with back problems and arthritis alone accounting for 40% of forced retirements—while 90% of people with severe or very severe pain report some interference with work.

Effective chronic pain treatments vary between individuals, so for best results it is important to us that we understand your background before treatment.

One in five Australian adults with severe or very severe pain also suffer from depression or other mood disorders.
One in three Australian adults with severe or very severe pain have high or very high levels of psychological distress.
There are high rates of generalised anxiety disorders and post-traumatic stress disorders among those living with chronic pain.
There are higher levels of suicide ideation, plans and attempts in people suffering from chronic pain symptoms.
There is no one simple solution because chronic pain is complex. It is more than just a simple physical sensation; it is really an exhausting “experience”. It’s not uncommon to see people resort to increased medications, social/illicit drugs, alcohol and other harmful substances just to escape the pain.

Our Chronic Pain Treatment Programs

At Beyond Pain we not only aim to treat persistent pain but provide you with the tools to empower yourself on your journey to recovery. This is why our pain management programs are always tailored to suit the individual. The effectiveness of chronic pain treatments vary between individuals so it only makes sense to design programs with long term goals. All our programs feature:

Goal setting and
enjoyable activities

We believe it is vital that your rehabilitation program is based on what you want to achieve. This way we can help you work towards that. When you don’t have clear goals, you won’t have a clear sense of direction. Once you set your goals, we will help you to achieve them in a manageable way.

Stretch & exercise programs

We will teach you our program and show you how to set the numbers yourself and do them to a level you can manage. This will stop you from push yourself too hard and save you money in the longer term because you will know how to set up a program that works for you. It’s not about pushing, it’s about pacing.

Relaxation
techniques

We will teach you different types of relaxation techniques so that you can use whichever works best for you when you need it. They range from short 30 second techniques to the longer 20 minute techniques. Our techniques are also versatile- they can be performed at home, at work or on the tram.

Managing flare-ups & setbacks

We teach you the difference between a flare-up and setback and how best to manage them both. Understanding the difference between them will empower you with the skill to know when you need external help.

Getting a better
night’s sleep

Research tell us that good sleep is very important for health and well-being. If you don’t sleep well, your symptoms tends to be worse the next day. So we will teach you some strategies to get a better nights sleep.

Getting into the
right mindset

If are getting angry, frustrated, depressed and/or anxious, we will teach you a range of strategies to help you. We understand everyone is different, so we will find what will work best for you.

Returning to work / activity in a helpful way

Having structure in your day and a sense of self-worth is vital in life. If you are at a working age, we will discuss what special considerations are required to support you with your work. We will also show you how to get back to enjoyable activities because for metal and physical well-being- it is important to have some fun!

Intimacy and how
to get it back

Often a delicate topic of discussion, but an integral part of life, we will discuss what you can do to help get this back into your life. We understand that everyone is at a different stage of intimacy and we are happy to work around your needs.

Learn how
to be heard

By the end your program, you will have a greater understanding and a sense of control of you condition. You may even save on costly ongoing treatments. Most people find noticeable improvement in their quality of life within the first month of treatment.

We understand

Chronic pain is physically and emotionally exhausting. It can affect your whole life: your personal life, your social life and your work life; your mood, your relationships and your physical ability. When you’re in pain, you tend to do less and be less active, feel frustrated and even down, avoid being around people, take your frustration out on your family or yourself, question your ability to do things including work, worry about the future and whether you will manage your next flare up and often crave for a good night’s sleep.

As chronic pain is invisible, people with persistent pain can feel misunderstood and stigmatised, even by medical professionals. They can lose their status within their family, their community and experience discrimination in many areas of their lives, including not being able to access health care, education, income and income support. There is a decreased enjoyment of normal activities, loss of function, role change and relationship difficulties. However, not all hope is lost, we can help you.

We can help

Beyond Pain is renowned for its unique, personalised chronic pain management service and the ability to achieve successful outcomes within a short time period. We have a deep seeded, personal understanding of experiencing chronic pain and clinical expertise. We get that chronic pain affects many aspects of your life. So, we address the whole you and not just the painful part… this is our strength and what makes us different!

We work with anyone suffering from chronic pain and we will help you with your chronic pain recovery. Our clients range from CEOs to factory workers, sports people, stay at home mums and dads, and, retirees. We see people from all walks of life.

Ready to get back to your best? If so, simply complete the enquiry form below or contact us today.