Managing your chronic pain with physiotherapy 

By: Amanda Rusis

Chronic pain can significantly impact quality of life. While medications might provide temporary relief, it is essential to address the root cause of the pain in order to experience long-term improvement. In this blog post, we will talk about the benefits of physiotherapy for chronic pain management. 

Understanding chronic pain 

Chronic pain is typically defined as pain that lasts for more than 3 months, beyond the normal healing time for an injury or illness. Pain is a complex physical, sensory and emotional experience and it can be caused by multiple factors:  

 1. Physiological factors: 

Chronic pain often originates from a combination of biological processes, including nerve sensitization, inflammation and changes in the nervous system. It can result from various conditions like, arthritis, fibromyalgia, nerve damage or musculoskeletal disorders.  

 2. Central sensitization: 

In some cases, chronic pain is associated with a phenomenon called Central Sensitization. This occurs when the central nervous system becomes hypersensitive causing pain to be felt without ongoing tissue damage.  

 3. Psychological factors: 

The psychological aspect of chronic pain is significant. Conditions like depression, anxiety and stress can make the pain more challenging to manage and can, in fact, precipitate the pain experience in and of themselves.  

The role of physiotherapy 

Physiotherapy aims to improve quality of life. This often involves improving mobility and function as well as mitigating pain intensity.  This is done using a number of strategies: 

1. Personalized treatment plans - a physiotherapist will assess you to create a customized treatment plan.  This ensures that the therapy targets your needs and the exact source of pain. 
   
2. Pain education - Physiotherapists can provide education about the nature of pain, the underlying causes and how certain activities may contribute to pain. Understanding how pain works can help you manage pain more effectively.  
   
   
3. Improving mobility and functional abilities - Physiotherapists can create a personalized exercise program to improve mobility and function. Aquatherapy is also a great option. It provides a safe environment to exercise.  
4. Avoiding surgery - In many cases, physiotherapy can help individuals avoid surgery by effectively managing their pain and improving their functional abilities.  

All of us at ProActive Rehab, no what the specialty, have education and skills to help address chronic pain.  The above are all strategies we use every day and what you can expect from working with us.  Please contact us at 705-788-1480 or check out our website www.proactiverehab.com for more information or to book an appointment.