While acute pain typically resolves within three months, chronic pain lasts for more than three months and can persist even after tissues have healed. Chronic pain can be complex and invisible because the causes can be unknown and may involve increased sensitivity within the nervous system.
Chronic pain is a national public health crisis. Approximately, 1 in 5 Canadians live with chronic pain, and Statistics Canada data reports that millions experience daily limitations or pain-related disabilities that impact their ability to work or move freely.
Affecting bones, joints, and muscles (e.g., osteoarthritis, back pain).
Stemming from nerve damage or dysfunction within the nervous system.
Amplified signaling within the central nervous system where the brain and spinal cord process sensory input intensely.
.png)
Mental health and chronic pain are fundamentally connected.
People living with mental illness are at higher risk of experiencing a wide range of chronic physical conditions. Conversely, people living with chronic pain experience depression and anxiety at twice the rate of the general population.
Oftentimes, the physical, or biological, aspects of chronic pain are treated, but the emotional experience is not actively considered. However, the biopsychosocial model approach to health care emphasizes that one's health is influenced by biological, psychological, and social factors.
Therefore, treatment for pain should involve consideration of each aspect, including the psychological. By caring for your mental health, you can positively impact your pain levels.
Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to change, adapt, and grow.
This happens when neurons, or braincells, form new connections or strengthen or weaken existing ones in response to learning, experience,injury, or environmental changes.
When you experience persistent or chronic pain, the brain can change over time and become moresensitive. Since repeated practice of thoughts or actions creates stronger neural pathways, your bodylearns to experience more pain over time.
Chronic pain brains function differently over time. When someone lives with persistent pain, the braingets practice sending pain signals to the body. Neuroplasticity comes in play as the natural processwhere the brain takes in new information and experiences and changes the brain. Like a muscle, thebrain can get stronger at whatever it is used for most.
Ways to manage your pain by retraining your brain:
.png)
Self-compassion and the way you talk to yourself are essential components for emotional health and are often not prioritized when you are feeling unwell or in pain.
800 – 525 West 8th Avenue,
Vancouver, BC V5Z 1C6.
1-844-430-0818
