Chronic pain is cited as pain lasting longer than normal tissue healing time. It results in depression, anxiety, poor sleep, and decreased quality of life. With over 100 million people in the US affected by chronic pain, between medical costs and loss of work, it costs society approximately $600 billion dollars a year! Chronic pain can be physical in nature, including various forms of arthritis, connective tissue disorders, and peripheral neuropathy, however it also has strong psychosocial roots. This makes it even more difficult to diagnose and treat, examples include fibromyalgia, chronic regional pain syndrome (CRPS), chronic low back pain, and chronic pelvic pain. Past trauma, cultural beliefs, and feelings such as fear, anxiety, depression, anger, guilt, shame, and loneliness can contribute to chronic pain. It is important to note that although psychological factors play a role, it is not just “in someone’s head,” and results in very real pain for the individual.
Prescription opioids have been the standard of care for managing chronic pain. However the addictive property of these drugs results in even more healthcare costs. In the past decade alone, opioid overdoses have tripled and treatment for opioid addictions have increased by over 200 percent. It is estimated that over half of all patients with chronic pain are addicted to their medication. Clearly, a better option is needed.
Research shows that physical activity, including strength training, aerobic exercise, flexibility and balance, yoga, pilates, and tai chi, are all effective at improving quality of life, physical and psychological function, and reducing pain severity. It is interesting to note that the type of activity is less important than the consistency with which it is performed. It is this reason that activities enjoyable for the individual are preferred to improve long-term compliance. Aside from showing better functional outcomes than medication, exercise does not come with the dangerous side effects such as overdoses. So if you are in chronic pain or know someone who is, the answer is to move! It doesn’t matter how you do it, find an activity you enjoy and start seeing improvement in your quality of life.
References
Geneen LJ, Moore RA, Clarke C, Martin D, Colvin LA, Smith BH. Physical activity and exercise for chronic pain in adults: an overview of Cochrane Reviews. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2017;4(4). doi:https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.cd011279.pub3
López-Arteaga T, Moreno-Rubio C, Mohedano-Moriano A. Risk factors for opioid addiction in chronic non-cancer pain. Heliyon. 2023;9(9). doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e19707
Baltimore M. For the Public. University of Maryland, Baltimore. Published 2023. Accessed April 22, 2024. https://www.umaryland.edu/cacpr/for-the-public/the-bane-of-chronic-pain.php#:~:text=The%20report%20also%20estimated%20that
Meilman P. Psychological Aspects of Chronic Pain. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy. 1979;1(2):75-114.
Ambrose KR, Golightly YM. Physical exercise as non-pharmacological treatment of chronic pain: Why and when. Best Practice & Research Clinical Rheumatology. 2015;29(1):120-130. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.berh.2015.04.022
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