Chronic Pain

Usually, acute pain lasts less than a week or two.  It goes away when the underlying cause resolves itself or has been treated.   But what about pain that hangs around for months, years or even a lifetime?  This is known as chronic pain.

FACTS ABOUT CHRONIC PAIN

• In general, pain is considered chronic when it continues for longer than three to six months. 
• Chronic pain can be mild or unbearable; intermittent or nonstop;  a nuisance in someone’s life or totally incapacitating. And, because chronic pain is so persistent, it can interfere with every part of a person’s life. 
• Experts estimate that it affects up to 100 million Americans—and is the number one cause of adult disability in the United States.   Arthritis and back pain are the most common causes of chronic pain.
• Chronic pain can cause a vicious cycle known as the “terrible triad”:  pain, sadness and sleeplessness.  It can be tough to break free from this cycle.  Chronic pain can also lead to a loss of mobility.
• Understanding how chronic pain impacts a client’s life can help shape the treatment plan for that person. 

Tips for helping with YOUR CLIENTS WHO HAVE CHRONIC PAIN

• Be patient with clients who may lash out because of their chronic pain.  Dealing with pain that just won’t go away is difficult. 
• Encourage clients to pace themselves.  People in pain tend to overdo on a good day—which often leads to several bad days in a row.  It’s better to aim for a steady, but manageable, amount of activity every day.
• Help your clients relax, using whatever method works for them.  Relaxation reduces muscle tension, promotes sleep and has a general calming effect. 
• Don’t assume that your client is pain-free just because he says he is fine.  Many chronic pain sufferers have learned to hide their pain, especially if they sense that people around them are tired of hearing about it.
• Remember that a good way to measure a client’s level of chronic pain is by observing how well he or she functions on a daily basis.  Is your client having trouble managing tasks that they used to do with ease?  Is she lying down for more hours of the day?  Her pain may be increasing.
• Encourage exercise as tolerated—whether that’s a short walk or some gentle range of motion exercises.  People who avoid activity because of their pain will experience more pain when they start moving again.