Each morning you wake up, one of the first things you want to know is whether the day will be good or bad, based on the level of your pain. It’s never a matter of if, but of how much.
This is an all-too-common situation in the United States, where nearly one-quarter of Americans report chronic pain — pain that lasts for 3-6 months or more.
Despite this eye-opening prevalence, there’s still a lot of misinformation swirling around about chronic pain. The team at World Medical Group dba Neuropathy & Pain Centers of Texas wants to set the record straight. With our decades of combined experience in pain management, we want to debunk some myths about pain.
No two people experience pain in the exact same way. Pain delivers an unpleasant sensory experience, but also an emotional one. The reality is, people perceive pain differently, and much of this depends upon prior experiences, as well as neural activity.
So, if someone finds something to be more painful than another person does, no one should judge which one is “right.” There is no right or wrong with pain since it's unique to each person.
This myth isn’t technically a myth, but we’re addressing the sentiment behind it. The fact is that all pain is in your head, or your brain, more specifically.
As the command center for your central and peripheral nervous systems, your brain is very much in charge of your pain. So, when people doubt the existence of pain by labeling it “All in your head,” you can tell them that, yes, indeed it is, and that makes it more, not less, real.
Pain is very much a side effect of injury or damage, but chronic pain can take on a life of its own and become a disease in its own right.
When pain signaling goes on for weeks, months, and years, activity in your brain creates well-worn neural pathways that fire up almost automatically. So, even if the underlying issue is long gone, your brain keeps the routine going, leaving you in continuing discomfort.
Many people with chronic pain have given up exercising, but this isn’t good for you on many levels.
When chronic pain is no longer protective, it’s a good idea to work around it and get moving. In fact, moving is an important way to relieve your pain — when your body moves, it releases feel-good hormones that not only reduce pain, but also elevate your mood. Not to mention, movement encourages a better flow of resources in your body.
If you have resigned yourself to a life of pain, we want you to consider another path forward. As pain management experts, we’re armed with an arsenal of tools that can help you better navigate pain. From pain medicine to physical medicine and from advanced laser technologies to interventional injections and procedures, we have the latest tools and services for combating chronic pain.
Don’t live with chronic pain. We can help. For compassionate and skilled care, call or message one of our offices in Arlington or Fort Worth, Texas, today to schedule an appointment.
