What Is Chronic Pain?
Chronic pain is pain that persists for an extended period of time, typically longer than three months. It can be caused by a variety of factors, including injuries, illnesses, and certain medical conditions. Chronic pain can have a significant impact on a person's pain threshold, which is the point at which a person begins to feel pain.
Chronic levels of physical pain places stress on the nervous system as it has to continuously relay the information from the point of injury or area of increased sensitivity to the brain. Research has shown that chronic pain can lower a person's pain threshold, making them more sensitive to pain. These changes can cause the nervous system to become more sensitive to stimuli, leading to an increase in pain perception.
In addition to lowering the pain threshold, chronic pain can also lead to changes in how a person responds to and copes with pain. For example, chronic pain may cause a person to become more anxious or depressed, which can further lower their pain threshold. Chronic pain can also interfere with a person's ability to sleep, leading to fatigue and a decreased ability to cope with pain.
How Can Osteopathy Help?
The anatomy of all human beings has a similar foundation; we all have the same structure and organs. However, there are variations in anatomy that occur from person to person crafted by the accumulation of our experiences. Some variations in anatomy occur as a result of medical conditions or injuries. For example, a person who has had surgery may have scars or other changes to their anatomy as a result of the procedure. In addition, certain medical conditions, such as birth defects or genetic conditions, can result in variations in anatomy. Your daily habits along with positions you are in for long periods of time define your posture and influence your range of motion over time. Your body adapts to what it does most. Hobbies, sleeping position, nutrition and occupation also play a role in the way your body develops and changes over time.
Despite these variations, Osteopathic treatment provides an individualized approach to each patient which aims to improve health across all body systems. Treatment entails gentle mobilizations of all joints and soft tissues throughout the body that aims to positively affect the body’s nervous, endocrine, vascular, and lymphatic systems.
Osteopathic treatment can help with chronic pain in several ways:
By improving the function of the musculoskeletal system: Osteopathic treatment can help to improve the function of the joints, muscles, and other tissues in the body, which can in turn help to reduce pain and improve mobility.
By relieving muscle tension: Osteopathic treatment techniques such as massage and stretching can help to relax tense muscles, which can reduce pain and improve mobility.
By improving circulation: Osteopathic treatment can help to improve circulation, which can in turn help to reduce pain and improve recovery time.
By addressing the root cause of pain: Osteopathic treatment aims to address the root cause of pain, rather than just treating the symptoms. By addressing the underlying cause of pain, osteopathic treatment can help to provide longer-term relief
Pain is a complex and subjective experience that can be influenced by a wide range of factors. A collective understanding of pain management can help to ensure that individuals receive the most appropriate and effective treatment for their specific needs.
Osteopathic treatment is meant to be relaxing and inhibitory. Without the use of high velocity or aggressive adjustment, treatment appeals to the nervous system, allowing the body to integrate the correction. This leads to longer lasting results while increasing the patients vitality, and placing the patient in a better position for the body to self-heal and self-regulate. Various treatment approaches help to ease pain, reduce swelling, reduce tissue tension, and promote healing. Overall, osteopathic treatment can be an effective way to manage chronic pain and improve overall function and well-being.
