Transcript
PAIN
Today’s Session
•Develop an understanding of why we feel pain•Pain physiology •Acute pain and inflammation•Chronic pain•Why does pain persist?•What can I do about my pain?
Why do we need pain?
•Extremely important in protecting our tissues•Alarms us to take action•Learn not to repeat the same activity again!!•Vital to our survival – motivates us to take action and warns against threats
Acute Injury and Inflammation
•When a tissue is injured, blood and other cells infiltrate the area
•This is what causes swelling, warmth and redness
•Inflammation promotes healing, as the correct cells are transported to the area to do their jobs
•A necessary part of inflammation is to release chemicals which sensitise nerves
Physiology
•Peripheral nerve endings - nociceptors• Detect the harmful stimulus, and transmit
this information to neurones and to the spinal cord
•2nd order nociceptors (in the Spinal cord) aka danger messenger neurones – transmit danger messages to the brain
•These signals are transmitted to the brain to be processed
Physiology
•The Brain decides whether this stimulus is harmful to us, and ultimately decides whether we are in pain
•The Brain will come compute this information, and elicit the necessary action
The wonderful brain
•The brain activates several systems that work together to get you out of danger:
Sympathetic nervous system Motor system Endocrine system Pain production system Immune system Parasympathetic nervous system
The Alarm System
•Everyone that has experienced an injury will incur changes in nerves and tissues
•The brain will also adapt and become more sensitive
•This process occurs to better equip ourselves for future injuries
• When pain has been around for a long time, the nerves, tissues, muscles, neurones and brain become highly sensitized
The danger alarm system becomes more sensitive
The danger messenger nerve becomes more excitable, and manufactures new danger messenger nerves
Response systems become more involved, and contribute to the problem
The brain gets better at remembering pain
Persistent Pain
Persistent Pain
•Pain can continue even though the tissue itself has healed
Why does pain persist in some and not others?
Some thoughts are: External factors – environment, support systems
Your views of pain
Poor medical management
Stress and anxiety
• Money issues
• Work cover issues
• Family and relationship worries
Stress•When the body is distressed, a hormone called adrenaline rushes through our blood vessels
•Our already sensitised nerves will react to adrenaline, and sense there is a threat
•The pain pathways become activated and heightened
Managing Pain
• Get treatment if you haven’t already done so!
Having an understanding of your injury will help in recovery and coping with your pain
Therapist may show you some useful stretches/exercises to help
Get all your questions answered Fear avoidance – therapist will teach you
movements that are OK to start doing again
• Get Active!
Many studies have shown that exercise may help with pain tolerance
Also reduces endorphins, which make you feel better
Helps to combat depression!!
Exercising 30 minutes a day is enoughIf you are unsure what you are safe to do, see a physiotherapist
Managing Pain
Managing Pain
• Consider your Mental Health
If you suffer from a mental illness, then seek treatment if you have not already done so
Relaxation techniques may help
• Avoid the ‘Boom and Bust’ Behaviour!
Pacing techniques can help to avoid flare ups
Record your current activity level, and gradually increase from there
Don’t go all out on a good day – this will sensitize the nervous system even more
Managing Pain
Living with Pain
• You may not get rid of your pain Unfortunately, many people will experience
ongoing pain If you understand pain, then it may make
living with it less scary and a little easier to cope with
Implementing the appropriate strategies when you have a “flare up”
Setting new goals
Catalyst Injury Management
•Supervised Gym programmes•Hydrotherapy•Physiotherapy treatment•Clinical Pilates
That’s all!Thank you for coming todayLook forward to seeing you next session
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