Chronic Pain

A physiotherapist discussing an assessment with a chronic pain patient

Long-term pain can arise from various pathologies, leading to persistent symptoms that significantly impact daily life. Through a comprehensive understanding of the condition and effective symptom management, patients can achieve a quality of life that supports daily functioning while aiming for long-term improvement. Physiotherapy for chronic pain plays a crucial role in this process, offering tailored treatments that address the underlying causes and help manage symptoms.

By incorporating physiotherapy and chronic pain management strategies, patients can work towards reducing discomfort and enhancing their overall well-being.

What is chronic pain?

Many conditions are acute in the onset of symptoms and the tissues involved will eventually heal. Pain is a response omitted by our nervous system to warn us of the ongoing healing process. Even in more chronic injuries i.e. tendinopathy where symptoms may persist for 6+ months, pain often reduces with targeted interventions.

Emotional and Psychological stress play a significant part in pain messaging as the nervous system is under a similar load as with physical causes of pain. In the case of chronic pain, the pain messages persist although there may not be any ongoing harm to the areas where we experience pain. Physiotherapy for chronic pain can help manage these persistent pain signals effectively.

Why do I need physio?

Understanding these mechanisms is paramount, especially without diagnosis. Our initial assessments enable detailed and thorough observations and conclusions to be drawn that can assist your ongoing management or identify the need for further assessment. In addition, there are many secondary benefits of exercise including dopamine and endorphin release, providing a lift in mood and energy. Soft tissue manipulation can aid in short-term pain relief by relaxing the nervous system and increasing exposure to non-harmful stimulus.

How can AJ Physio help?

Alongside your treatment, there are ways we can help outside of our speciality:

  • Discussing secondary and manageable issues with your GP.

  • Supporting your access to counselling, behavioural therapies and specialist pain clinics by providing written referrals.

Contact our team to learn more about the various ways that AJ Physio can support your recovery from chronic pain.