Chronic pain management
Acute pain is short-lived pain that goes away when the injury or disease causing it is treated. Pain is said to have become chronic when it has occurred on most days of the week for more than 3 months.
What causes chronic pain?
About one in 5 adults in Australia suffers from chronic pain. The leading cause is said to be injuries, such as sporting injuries, motor vehicle accidents, and accidents in the home and at work.
Chronic pain can also be caused by an ongoing disease such as osteoarthritis. However, in some cases no physical cause for the pain can be found or the pain persists long after the injury has healed. In many cases chronic pain is a disorder in itself rather than being the symptom of a disease process.
Assessing pain
Firstly, it is very important that you see your doctor for an assessment of your pain to make sure there is not a serious underlying cause. This will include taking a history from you, performing a physical examination, and may also involve some tests. You should ask your doctor anything about your condition that you do not understand or that you are concerned about.
Managing your pain
The management of chronic pain will be different for each individual. Your doctor will probably draw up a personal management plan for you. They may prescribe medication and may suggest involving other therapists, such as a physiotherapist, occupational therapist or clinical psychologist, in your care.
Although each person's management is individualised, there are a number of things that most people can generally do to help manage their pain. These include the following.
-
Learn to prioritise the things you need to do so that you do the most important things first.
-
Pace yourself so that you don't try to do too much in one go and become over-tired.
-
Try to do some exercise appropriate for your condition (your doctor or physiotherapist can advise you about this).
-
Learn techniques to relax and distract you from thinking about your pain.
-
If you have a problem with sleeping, talk to your doctor about what you can do to get a better night's sleep.
People with chronic pain may experience anxiety and depression, which can make the pain seem worse. It is very important to talk to your doctor if you are feeling anxious or depressed.
Although chronic pain may not be able to be completely relieved, with good management most chronic pain can be helped.
Last Reviewed: 18 January 2008
