Chronic Pain...cause or effect?

Chronic (long term, persistent) pain can come in many forms.  Sometimes, it is due to arthritis or other disease condition; other times, it is due to a less specific condition.  With some chronic conditions, such as Fibromyalgia Syndrome, co-occurring conditions such as sleep disturbances/disorders/difficulties and multiple locations of chronic pain are required for diagnosis. Research has found there are a few health conditions that, very frequently co-occur with chronic pain. 

Sleep difficulties, depression and anxiety are considered potential predetermining factors for chronic pain.  All three can be the cause or the result of chronic pain.  Many health professionals believe that it is critical to treat and/or manage sleep issues, depression and anxiety with any health condition, especially if that condition has been treated for three or more months without significant improvement.


If you have been experiencing a long term painful condition, take the time to ask yourself:

-Am I getting 6-8 hours of quality sleep each night?0961547001601908985.jpg


-Do I feel uneasy or nervous without an inciting event or at seemingly insignificant times?

-Do I have prolonged feelings of sadness?

-Do I have sadness without a definitive reason?

-Have I lost interest in what I once found pleasure or joy in?

-Do I feel hopeless or helpless?


If the answer to any of these questions is "yes", you may benefit from targeting the sleep, depression and/or anxiety in addition to the condition causing your pain.


There are varieties of ways to address sleep issues; many health care professionals have advice and ideas to help.  After standard suggestions and medical advice have been exhausted, then what?  What should a person do with depression or anxiety that impact life?


There has been a lot of research into psychotherapy for all of these conditions.  Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) has been reported in research to be effective.  Insurance companies like to pay for CBT because it has been shown to be effective in changing behaviors in a short duration of treatments, approximately 10-20 sessions in changing behaviors. The catch is that CBT has a very high rate of recurrence of conditions over time; thus, it may be beneficial to find a CBT therapist to help you in the short term and find mindfulness based therapeutic approaches to continue health and improvement over the long term.  The stigma associated with psychotherapy is waning.  Millions of people employ therapist to discuss and help them improve their lives; there is no shame in seeking help.  

If your answer to some of the above questions is "yes", it may benefit you (and your wallet) to seek therapy prior to exhausting medical intervention.  A combined therapeutic approach is often very effective.


If you are experiencing sleeplessness, depression or anxiety, one option is to go the the Psychology Today website.  You can find a variety of therapist there; you can search for a therapist regarding your specific condition.  Their website makes it easy to find or choose a therapist that you might connect well with (the relationship in psychotherapy is of great import.)


At Gallatin Valley Chiropractic, our doctors help patients that are experiencing acute or chronic pain.  If you require a referral for additional services to help with your chronic pain, our doctors will provide an appropriate and trusted referral.  Call today for your appointment!  406-551-2177


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