No Images? Click here Our previous two newsletters introduced the Biopsychosocial Model of Pain and looked at one of the major psychosocial obstacles to recovery: catastrophizing. In this newsletter we will introduce another significant obstacle to recovery and return to work: patients’ own beliefs about their pain and what it means. It is a common belief that hurt must equal harm, when often in musculoskeletal problems this is not the case. Our patients often express the belief that provoking the pain by moving is making the problem worse, and that they should therefore avoid anything they believe might heighten the pain (fear of pain will be the subject of a future newsletter). At Integrative Pain Care we take the time to explain to our patients that sore does not equal worse and that in chronic pain conditions, the way to reduce the impact of the pain is to move not rest. Pain is often one of the last symptoms to settle after injury and is considered a mystery to many. Uncertainty about pain is one of our greatest stressors. The human brain prefers certainty, even if it’s certain to be unpleasant! The brain believes we still need to be protected, therefore pain persists long after the initial injury ‘should’ have healed. This is why around 20% of patients continue to have ongoing pain after a simple sprain or strain. Education about the neurophysiology of pain is an ongoing process with our patients at Integrative Pain Care. We have a diverse but like-minded team who check in regularly to ensure our patients are receiving consistent information which is targeted at their beliefs. Self-efficacy is one of the outcomes measured in the Electronic Persistent Pain Outcomes Collaboration which ACC subscribes to. It is a (sub-conscious) belief that there is little the patient can do to help themselves manage their pain. This thought process can strongly influence patients behavior, maintaining disability and absence from work. The mindfulness based interventions we offer as part of our overall approach help people to understand they have a choice about what they pay attention to, and subsequently the meaning they place on it. ‘Yes I hurt, but no, it does not mean I am damaging myself’ can be a significant step in building self-efficacy, however it can be a difficult step for some people to take. For further information on our approach or to make a referral please contact our receptionist Holly. ‘Integrative Pain Care: Guiding the journey back from patient to person’ |