To effectively address and overcome pain, it is important to gain an understanding of the specific type of pain afflicting you. Once you have identified the nature of your pain, managing it becomes much easier.
Your osteopath will combine knowledge of your signs, symptoms, and medical history to pinpoint the category of pain you are experiencing. The three primary types of pain include:
- Mechanical – or nociceptive
This relates to tissue damage, encompassing injuries to the joints, muscles, ligaments, discs, and tendons. A few examples of these injuries can include joint sprains, muscle strains, and bulging discs. This pain generally feels sharp, aching, or throbbing. - Neuropathic – or nerve
This type of pain arises when there is irritation or damage to a portion of the nervous system. There are several conditions that fall into this category, some examples include trigeminal neuralgia, paraesthesia, and complex regional pain syndrome. This can feel like a shooting, stabbing, or burning pain. - Chronic – or persistent
Chronic pain is characterised by its complexity and persists for three or more months. This type of pain can continue being felt even when the primary cause has been resolved. In some cases, there may also be a psychological component to this pain. Chronic pain can be experienced at all ages and is estimated to affect 1 in 5 Australians over the age of 45.
Regardless of whether your pain is mechanical, neuropathic, or chronic, employing a systematic approach can assist you in effectively managing and potentially resolving your symptoms. An example of such approach your osteopath may take you through is as follows:
Step 1: Reduce pain symptoms.
There is nothing more frustrating than pain preventing you from doing the things you enjoy, so the first step is to get this under control. How do you do this? Well, you may have heard this sentence from your osteo in the past, “you need to limit your aggravating factors.” This refers to anything that causes your pain or symptoms to flare up. In combination with this, you can introduce strategies that will help to reduce your pain. This may include self-massage, flexibility and mobility exercises, and aerobic exercises (such as walking, cycling, and swimming). These strategies can help to reduce your pain and prepare you for the next step…
Step 2: Address muscle weakness and loss in range of motion.
Pain can restrict muscle activation which may limit your ability to move. As your pain and symptoms improve, you need to implement more mobility, movement, and resistance exercises to reduce impairments and improve your functional ability. It is likely that you will have mild to moderate pain, however, you can move and do activities without increasing your pain. This is how you know you are getting better and moving closer to the final step.
Step 3: Strengthen your body to build capacity and prevent future flare-ups.
Once your functional ability has improved, the next step is to load your body with a full range of motion resistance exercises. This may help to improve muscle, ligament, and tendon strength whilst also increasing bone density – all positive changes within the musculoskeletal system that make your body more resilient!
Step 4: Pain education.
Pain education is a vital component of healthcare which is aimed at empowering you to understand the complexities of pain, manage your symptoms effectively, and make informed decisions about your health. By providing knowledge about pain mechanisms, coping strategies, and treatment options, pain education will help to foster self-management skills, improve quality of life, and reduce the stigma often associated with chronic pain conditions. Pain education will equip you with the tools to actively participate in your treatment and rehabilitation process, ultimately playing a key role in promoting self-centred care, enhancing outcomes, and overall well-being. And that’s what osteopathy is all about!
Final Notes…
Whilst these steps can prove quite effective on their own, manual therapy from your osteopath can assist in speeding the process along and filling in the gaps where your progression seems to have hit a rut.
It is important to note that the timeline of progression through these steps will vary depending on the root cause of your pain and symptoms.
To learn more about your pain and assistance in creating an appropriate and personalised management plan, click HERE to book in with one of our fantastic osteopaths at Bodywell Healthcare today.