Pain is ubiquitous; there isn’t a single individual who hasn’t experienced it in their life. It can manifest as physical or mental pain, with the latter, commonly referred to as hurtful pain, being alleviated by addressing stress triggers. However, physical pain is often more burdensome and can lead to mental anguish if left untreated.
If all diseases were a family than Pain would definitely be the head of the family.
Dr Milon V Mitragotri
Medical science now confirms that physical pain can significantly impact brain function, causing psychological problems. Surprised? Let’s delve deeper.
Bio-psycho-social nature of pain
The International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) defines pain as a bio-psycho-social disease, encompassing three elements.
Consider the following example: A 65-year-old widow experiences knee pain for six months. Medications prescribed by her general physician provide little relief. The excruciating pain impedes her daily activities, rendering her dependent on her children for livelihood. She withdraws socially, attributing her isolation to poor health.
After a year, bedridden due to lower back pain, she develops additional health issues like diabetes and hypertension. Cognitive decline sets in with poor recall and concentration. She becomes irritable, estranging herself from her son.
Biology of Pain
The actual trigger here is knee osteoarthritis, with ongoing physical damage and inadequate pain relief resulting in the biology of pain.
Psychology of Pain
Pain begins influencing the patient’s psyche, associating mobility and activity with the cause of pain.
Social Pain
Social interactions decline as pain dominates daily activities, fearing attention on her physical disability.
These elements create a vicious cycle of pain due to miscommunications between the peripheral nervous system and central nervous system, especially in diseases like fibromyalgia. What’s Fibromyalgia, Wait for my next blog…
Even after physical pain resolution, the mental imprint can persist, impacting the patient’s quality of life. The risk of entering this cycle lies in inadequately treating pain especially in chronic cases. Early pain intervention can prevent complications.
What can one do?
Breaking this cycle early is crucial. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and mindfulness are effective measures. Have you successfully managed your pain? Share your insights and any additional measures you found helpful in the comments.
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