Although it can go along with other health conditions, chronic pain is not just an accompanying symptom, but rather a separate condition, with its own medical definition and classification. Chronic pain is defined as persistent pain that lasts 3-6 months or longer. It is also commonly tied to low quality of life, dependence on opioids, anxiety and depression, and restrictions in daily activities.
While nearly 1 in 5 American adults experience chronic pain, there’s still a lot to be learned about its impact and treatment. That’s why today your care team at the Comprehensive Pain Institute is taking the time to unpack some of the less understood elements of chronic pain.
1.) The brain doesn’t feel pain
While it’s true that there are no pain receptors in the brain, it does still aid in pain detection. When pain receptors in your skin perceive a real or potential injury, they send that message along the nerves in the spinal column up to the brain. The brain does not have to tell your body to move away from the source of injury because the spinal cord, which controls your reflexes, has already sent that message.
The pain signal, and how to respond to it, is interpreted in a couple of different areas of the brain. That pain signal is also sent to the limbic system, which can catalog and evoke an emotional response.
2.) Back Pain is the most common pain condition
This isn’t just a random fact for us. In our pain management Bedford clinic, (clinics also located in Benbrook & Lewisville) we see this statistic walk through our door every single day. Back pain affects millions of Americans every year, and within that number, more females than males. The most common area of the back to be affected by chronic pain is the lumbar region.
Some common causes for chronic back pain include:
- Injuries, such as sprains, strains and trauma
- Congenital conditions
- Degenerative problems
- Nerve and spinal cord problems
- Age
- Weight gain
- Repetitive stress
- Fitness level
- Psychological factors
If you are suffering from back pain, we can help! Comprehensive Pain Institute has clinics in three Texas locations: Bedford, Benbrook and Lewisville. Give us a call today and find at a clinic near you.
3.) Chronic Pain is physical AND emotional
Not only does chronic pain wreak havoc on the body but it also does a number on the mind. Chronic pain can be isolating because it can limit social and physical activities that are part of a person’s quality of life. This, combined with the physical elements of chronic pain, can lead to anxiety and depression.
Our team of pain management experts recommend treating chronic pain with therapies that target both the emotional and physical distress. Our pain clinic Bedford, Tx doctors believe in 365 degrees of care (clinics also located in Benbrook & Lewisville). Check out our full philosophy along with meeting our team to learn more!
4.) Weather can affect pain
It’s a common believe among chronic pain sufferers that the weather affects their pain levels. This idea has been circulating from as early as Hippocrates’s time. However, in recent years, studies have proven it to be more fact than fiction
In one famous study entitled Cloudy with A Chance of Pain, scientists studied the impact of weather on various symptoms such as fatigue, pain, stiffness, and mood. The results proved that higher humidity and wind speed and lower atmospheric pressure were associated with increased pain severity in people with long-term pain conditions.
5.) There are many ways to manage chronic pain
Just as each person is unique, your pain – and the corresponding treatment of it – is unique. Because of that, there are a wide variety of options in managing each individual’s chronic pain. Your care team should be dedicated to leaving no stone unturned when it comes to assessing your pain and applying just the right combination of modern medicine and technology to obtain extraordinary results. At the Comprehensive Pain Institute, that dedication is in our DNA.
Here are just a few of the treatments you can expect at all three of our Texas locations in Bedford, Benbrook & Lewisville:
- Epidural injections
- Medial Branch blocks
- Regenerative Medicine procedures
- Spine Rhizotomies
- Lumbar Discography
- And many, many more!
Visit our treatment page to see the full list of treatments we offer!
Chronic Pain Management in TX
One more surprising fact about chronic pain is that chronic pain doesn’t have to control your life. At our pain management Bedford clinic, Benbrook clinic, and Lewisville clinic, we offer state of the art chronic pain treatments that help put you back in the driver’s seat.
Call us today to schedule your appointment with our pain management experts!
Get in touch with us by calling 817-786-8238
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article does not constitute medical advice, nor does reading or accessing this information create a patient-provider relationship. Comments that you post will be shared with all visitors to this page. All comments are not governed by HIPAA and you should not post any private health information.
