How does back pain become chronic? The problem with backaches is that they can progress into recurring conditions that often become worse over time. But how does this progression occur? Jonathan Blood Smyth offers insight into this question in the article How Acute Back Pain Becomes Chronic.
What is Chronic Pain?
What is chronic pain? The definition can be a little tricky to navigate. Most consider chronic pain to be persistent and incurable. However, any discomfort that lasts longer than the expected time that healing should normally occur is chronic. When it comes to backaches, the timeframe is typically longer than it normally takes soft tissue in the area to repair itself.
Often chronic pain has no distinct cause, and there is no time limit. Some people experience the discomfort for several weeks while others find no relief. This type of discomfort is quite different from acute conditions.
What is Acute Pain?
Acute pain serves a specific purpose. It can be considered to be a neurological alarm that warns the person that injury or physical harm is eminent. If a person puts his hand on a flame, the burning sensation sends an immediate signal to the brain to move the hand away, and it does this very quickly.
Often, the response to acute pain is so rapid that the hand moves before the actual sensation of discomfort registers in the brain. The main difference between acute and chronic pain is acute pain serves a specific purpose, self-preservation. Chronic pain has no real function.
Inflammation
Inflammation is a significant cause of discomfort for a number of different conditions. This is the source of pain for people who have conditions like arthritis. When an individual has acute pain, it may be associated to inflammation; this can gradually lead to chronic back pain if it isn’t treated properly.
Psychological Pain
In some cases, the discomfort can rest in the subconscious mind. Some people may experience discomfort that serves no purpose because there is a psychological factor present. Some assert that a psychological burden, guilt or taking on too much can translate into chronic back pain. If the person has had backaches in the past, she may be more prone to carry her psychological burdens on her back.
Nervous System Connections
The sensation of pain travels through the nervous system. Sensory neurons, called nociceptors, are designed to alert the body that potential harm is eminent. When this highly sensitive system sends the messages, the sensation of pain is felt. Sometimes, this process can run on its own.
If someone experiences pain on a regular basis, he begins to expect to feel pain. This often occurs on a subconscious level. In some cases, nociceptors become highly sensitized to innocuous stimuli, creating discomfort when there is no threat of harm.
Alternative medicine offers many ways to treat chronic back pain that include addressing the nervous system. Hypnosis is a prime example of a complementary approach that uses the subconscious mind to help the nervous system from responding automatically when there is no need.
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March 2nd, 2010 at 2:44 pm
Orthopedic shoes and inserts are the most economic approach. They have a built up inner arch that can give support and alleviate pain. Heel supports are often built into orthopedic shoes as a means of softening the blow that runs up the lower leg bones with each step. These supports are made of foam or gel and will give rigidity to the ankle which will help prevent twists.