Chronic pain can range from being a bit of a nuisance to defining your every move and happiness. But what is chronic pain and how can chiropractic help? Tom Cairns, chiropractor, explains.
When it comes to pain, the biggest distinction to make is between time frames:
- Acute pain typically lasts less than 3 months. It’s usually linked to a specific injury or event that we can trace back to, for example, rolling your ankle. In this case, pain is relative to tissue damage (ligaments, muscles, tendons, sometimes even bones or nerves). As the tissues heal, the pain usually fades within that 3-month window.
- Chronic pain lasts longer than 3 months. Often it comes on gradually and may occur without clear cause. What started as a niggle is suddenly still there 6 months later. It can be constant or intermittent, mild or severe and localised or widespread.
While there are blurred lines between the two, acute pain is most often related to tissue damage, whereas chronic pain is usually more complex. Sometimes an acute injury that ‘should’ have healed continues to bother us for years. That’s when we hear phrases like “I’ve always had dodgy ankles.”
But here’s the key message:
Chronic pain is not ‘normal’ and it can always be improved, managed or even prevented.
Why Does Pain Become Chronic?
Here are some of the common reasons an acute injury can turn into a long-standing problem:
- Tissue health not addressed – the injured area wasn’t properly mobilised or rehabilitated, so it stayed stiff and didn’t heal fully.
- Tissue strength not addressed – even if healing occurred, failure to strengthen the area leaves it vulnerable to repeat injury.
- Recurrent overuse – Returning to activity too quickly can prevent tissues from fully recovering.
But it’s not just physical issues. Pain is influenced by many other factors, such as:
- Stress – Increases tension, slows healing, disrupts nutrition uptake, and fuels inflammation
- Poor diet – Lack of proper nutrients affects recovery and can worsen inflammation
- Poor sleep – We all know how much harder everything feels without it
- Psychological factors – Fear, worry, and unhelpful beliefs about pain can snowball
- Social factors – Hearing negative stories about back pain or injuries can make us more likely to catastrophise our own pain
For a deeper dive, check out this excellent resource: University of Queensland – Causes of Chronic Pain.
What Can Be Done?
Our advice is don’t just live with it, get it checked.
At Encompass Health, our chiropractors can:
- Assess and diagnose what’s causing or contributing to your pain
- Use hands-on treatment to restore movement and function
- Offer technological treatment therapies where appropriate
- Provide specific exercises to rebuild strength and resilience
- Address lifestyle factors like sleep, stress, diet, and mindset
We also offer massage at the clinic, which can help to manage painful symptoms as well as mood and mindset.
Chronic pain doesn’t have to define you. With the right approach, you can take control, improve your quality of life, and prevent pain from ruling your day-to-day life.
To discuss your condition and see if we might be able to help you, call us on 01242 805851.
Recent Comments