The source: Three Sources of Chronic Pain

• Possible structural problem
• Inflammation of soft tissues
• Neurophysiological Disorder – “short circuits”

The receptor—your brain

Three additional variables affect your perception of pain:

• Sensitization
• Memorization
• The “Modifiers” –1) anxiety 2) anger 3) sleep

Chronic pain is a complex problem and even more so, as each person is unique. It won’t respond to isolated simplistic treatments. The approach that is successful in solving pain is similar to that of fighting a forest fire.

“I Can Only Fix What I Can See”

These concepts apply to pain in any part of the body regardless of the source. I will discuss low back pain as one example. The exact source of your LBP is usually unclear.  Many assume if you are pursuing a diagnosis with your doctor then there must be an indentifiable problem that is solvable with surgery. Surgery is felt to be the “definitive” solution.

• It is only definitive if you can see the problem.
• Even then the potential benefits must outweigh the risks.
• I often compare spine surgery to dentistry. (Back Pain vs. Mouth Pain)

A high percent of spine surgery should never be performed.

• What many surgeons are defining as “structural” is simply normal aging anatomy.
• Degenerative disc disease is not a disease.
• All intervertebral discs lose water content with age.
• They have been shown not to be the source of your chronic LBP.
• A fusion for a degenerated disc has a success rate of < 30%.

Video: “Get it Right the First Time”

Surgical Results Overly Optimistic

Marsha’s Three Needless Spine Surgeries

The post Understand Chronic Pain first appeared on Back in Control.

The post Understand Chronic Pain appeared first on Back in Control.

• Addictions
  • Drugs, alcohol, cigarettes
  • Work
  • Sex
  • Gambling

• Getting caught up in a “good cause” (which might be excellent, but the driving force behind it might be somewhat suspect if examined carefully.)
• Hoarding
• Excessive involvement in hobbies
  • Gardening
  • Reading
  • Sports

Several of the activities listed above are not problematic.  If you choose to pursue a deep passion on your own terms and value system, you are creating alternate neurologic pathways that are powerful in improving your mental health. Being deeply connected to your own value system and pursuing your passion is an important strategy in neurological reprogramming. However, pursuing a passion is a completely different process than being driven by anxiety. It’s impossible to outrun your anxiety without paying some price.

Masking strategies, even when anxiety-driven, might be slightly more effective than suppressing or suffering in that they are not feeding the negative circuits. They are not slowing them down, either, though. When you are done with that particular activity, the repetitive negative thoughts are still there continuing to be memorized.

The post Masking first appeared on Back in Control.

The post Masking appeared first on Back in Control.