Oh, My aching Back!!
All of us, at some point in our lives, have had or will experience PAIN.
We can’t escape it. We stub our toe on the bedpost, burn our hand removing a tray from the oven or experience whiplash after a fender bender or fall off a horse. In most cases, these episodes of pain are short lived but other times, pain can linger and linger radically changing our lives. We struggle to complete a work day, toss and turn all night waking exhausted or unable to participate in the activities we enjoy.
So what’s gone wrong. Pain is more than a biomedical problem meaning there’s more to pain then just the physical damage to bones, muscles and soft tissues (nerves, adhesions, blockages). If that were the case, these “physical” problems would have a biomedical solution such as medications and surgeries. These solutions are important and life saving, but evidence has shown that it has not been helping to decrease persistent pain. Research is revealing that pain is the combination of not just biologic components but emotions, cognitive factors, the environment, and social factors. In other words, pain is biopsychosocial: biology(the body) +psychology(emotions)+social factors(culture)
So what does biopsychosocial really mean? The 3 components overlap and are intertwined with each other to contribute to the resolution or exacerbation of the pain.
Biologic components: genetics, age, tissue damage, structural dysfunction, inflammation, immunologic issues
Psychologic components: emotions , thoughts, beliefs, the meaning that is given to the pain, memories, prior experiences, expectations, coping skills
Social factors: cultural, societal, economic factors, family , relationships, social support, environment
For example, if there is a fall from a horse, there will be some type of “physical “ component to a perception of pain but elevated “emotions” of fear and anxiety may increase the level of pain, “I won’t be able to ride because it will hurts too much.” If the demands are great at home, “social factors”, that can impact the pain level as well, “I can’t go to work because of the pain and there’s not enough money to pay the Vet “. On the other hand, if there is an injury but it is perceived as not that significant (lower emotional response ) and life is easier at home, the resolution of the pain is faster. So, if pain is approached from the physical perspective ONLY with medications, procedures and gadgets, two-thirds of the problem is being ignored!!
One thing to remember is that pain serves as our warning system. It’s there to protect us and keep us alive.
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