| Often called 'the fifth vital sign,' pain is as | | | | The pain generating stimulus must be interrupted |
| important as temperature, pulse, respiration, and | | | | until the memory in the nerve cells has been |
| blood pressure as a key indicator of a patient's | | | | forgotten. For many chronic pain cases, deep |
| medical status. The longer we live, the more likely | | | | tissue therapy a few times every week can help |
| it is that we will eventually experience some type | | | | these hyperexcited receptors feeding the central |
| of injury or disease that results in temporary or | | | | nervous system to quiet down and the sensation |
| even chronic pain. Surgeries become more | | | | of pain to dissipate and even disappear. |
| frequent, both elective and those deemed vital to | | | | Deconditioning Complications of Chronic Pain |
| our survival and well-being. Injury and surgery | | | | Any part of the body that has severe and |
| leads to scar tissue that may cause lingering pain, | | | | chronic pain will discontinue normal, symmetric, |
| mar our outer appearance, and diminish certain | | | | coordinated movement, and the person with pain |
| movement capabilities. Many of us also take a | | | | will simply self-splint, immobilize, and decondition |
| variety of pharmaceuticals and/or recreational | | | | the area. Muscles, nerves and joints weaken and |
| drugs to delay some disease process or to | | | | deteriorate leading to muscle atrophy, neuropathy, |
| alleviate symptoms of chronic physical or | | | | contracture, decreased movement, and gradual |
| emotional pain. These drugs, even properly | | | | weight gain. To compensate for a weak, painful |
| prescribed prescription drugs, may sometimes | | | | area, joints, nerves and muscles in other parts of |
| exacerbate the problems and even create new | | | | the body will work overtime, leading to "overload |
| unexpected painful side effects. | | | | and overuse syndrome. |
| Sometimes, continuing to take pain medication | | | | Hormonal Complications of Chronic Pain |
| actually perpetuates the pain when the medication | | | | Chronic pain is a potent stressor that may affect |
| is stopped or increased doses may be required to | | | | every endocrine system in the body. Initially, the |
| maintain the same effect. With body therapy, on | | | | pain causes an excess of stress hormones |
| the other hand, over a period of time, fewer and | | | | (catecholamines and glucocorticoids) to help the |
| fewer treatments may be required because the | | | | body control pain and prevent damage. However, |
| body cells remember the sensations of | | | | this excess may trigger hypertension and |
| neuromuscular letting go and previously over | | | | tachycardia, sometimes leading to cardiovascular |
| stimulated nerve receptor cells begin to quiet | | | | death. |
| down. | | | | If severe pain continues and is not controlled, |
| Causes of Pain | | | | adrenal exhaustion and decreased stress hormone |
| A popular belief, even among medical | | | | levels may result. The fluctuation between excess |
| professionals, is that the most common cause for | | | | and deficient glucocorticoids, often called Cushing |
| pain is a pinched nerve. According to this belief, | | | | and Addison syndromes respectively, can lead to |
| there are three types of pain: | | | | many severe symptoms, including: mental |
| *Nocioception - immediate, protective pain | | | | deficiencies, muscle weakness, edema, |
| *Inflammatory - local cellular damage | | | | osteoporosis, diabetes, forming stones, tooth |
| *Neuropathic - one or more nerves are affected, | | | | decay, and even testosterone deficiency. A |
| delayed in onset, becomes chronic pain, requires | | | | further effect of pain and lowered levels of |
| physical input to heal the injury...and is | | | | important hormones is a compromised immune |
| radiculopathic (nerve root impingement causing | | | | system, lowered resistance to infections and |
| weakness, numbness, and difficulty controlling | | | | slower healing of wounds when injured. |
| certain muscles) | | | | Neuropathic Complications of Chronic Pain |
| Chronic pain is believed to be caused by | | | | Persistent pain causes excess electrical activity in |
| shortened (contracted) muscles resulting from | | | | peripheral nerves, spinal cord and brain. This 'hot |
| neuropathy and radiculopathy. This theory is | | | | wire' effect appears to cause nerve tissue |
| based upon Cannon's 1949 Law of Dennervation | | | | damage in the spine as well as the brain, which |
| Supersensitivity which states: "Any measure (such | | | | can lead to dementail and other organic brain |
| as a nerve impingement caused by radiculopathy) | | | | problems. |
| which blocks the flow of motor impulses and | | | | Cardiovascular Effects of Chronic Pain |
| deprives an organ or tissue of excitatory input | | | | Pain increases blood pressure. This is not such a |
| (motor impulses) for a period of time, will cause | | | | problem for a person with a normally low to |
| abnormal functioning (called 'disuse sensitivity') in | | | | average blood pressure. But for a person |
| the receptor organ or tissue. | | | | suffering from hypertension and high blood |
| Recent research, using magnetic resonance | | | | pressure, the increased blood pressure resulting |
| imaging (MRI's), has demonstrated that no matter | | | | from the body's pain response can lead to a |
| how much a normal functioning spine is | | | | more serious heart problem such as a stroke or |
| compressed or twisted, there is ample room in | | | | aneurysm. |
| the space between the vertebrae for free | | | | Pain, especially as we age, should not be taken |
| movement of the nerve. Researchers are now | | | | lightly. There are all sorts of medications available |
| suggesting that much of the pain may be caused | | | | to decrease the level of pain. And when needed, |
| by sensory receptor overload from postural | | | | pain medication can literally save lives. But for |
| imbalances. Through a process called | | | | chronic pain, there are so many diet, exercise and |
| "sensitization," a pattern may be set up in the | | | | body therapy prescriptions that can not only be |
| body in which hyperexcited receptors feeding the | | | | life saving but can transform the quality of a |
| central nervous system cause the brain to send | | | | person's life. |
| signals to twist and torque the body to avoid pain. | | | | |