Advanced Pain Management Doctor
Patient Education and Links
The
Pain Cycle
·
Pain causes a
person to become tense. Anxiety can
intensify the pain. Tension in the
muscles can intensify the pain. Increased pain can disrupt sleep. Lack of sleep causes fatigue, anxiety, tension and stress.
Continual fatigue, anxiety, tension, and stress can cause depression.
Depression in turn can cause the physical pain to worsen.
The cycle continues…
·
Depression is a
common symptom found in many patients attempting to cope with pain.
Depression can be difficult to identify in one’s self.
·
Coping with pain
and fatigue can be very difficult and can affect many aspects of your life.
Tension and stress seem to escalate as patients attempt to cope with
pain. Many stressful issues that people dealing with pain identify
include:
o
Family
relationships and dynamics
o
Sexual
relations/difficulties
o
Financial
problems/concerns
o
Employment
o
Recreational
activities (inability)
o
Social
activities/inactivity
o
Other
generalized health issues
·
Many patients
are referred to a psychologist to compliment their treatment regimen in pain
management. Referral to a
psychologist does not mean you are “crazy” or depressed.
A psychologist plays an important role in the treatment of pain to by:
o
Counseling
patients in coping more effectively with their stress.
o
Teaching
relaxation and imagery, which are techniques that help reduce tension in muscles
and assist in coping with pain.
o
Counseling
patients in coping with depression.
o
Teaching
biofeedback. Biofeedback is a
method of becoming more aware of physical reactions to pain and stress so that a
person can better control those reactions.
o
Facilitating
cognitive behavioral therapy that focus on coping with pain.
o
Facilitating
individual, group, or family therapy.
- For
more information:
- American
Chronic Pain Association
- 1-916-632-0922
- www.theacpa.org
- The
American Pain Foundation
· Your pain is real. Psychological care is one of many approaches to pain management. Your individualized treatment regimen will incorporate many approaches.