For many of the thousands of Canadian men, women and children who suffer from chronic pain, medication and physical therapy are simply not enough to help them successfully manage the daily discomfort they experience. Yet that is often the extent of their treatment, and so they are made to endure their pain, often feeling hopeless and emotionally distressed about their never-healing condition. Their treating physicians’ exhaustion of known treatment modalities often contributes to their despair, leaving them to suffer in silence and feeling ignored.
People who have suffered from motor vehicle accidents, in particular, often find themselves faced with seemingly untreatable chronic pain. In many cases the severity of the physical pain can trigger debilitating emotional and psychological pain as well. In addition to asking, “How can I manage or get rid of my pain?” they may also wonder, “Why do I feel as if my whole world is spinning out of control since my car accident?”
Chronic pain sufferers commonly experience intense feelings of stress, anger, frustration, anxiety and depression. The suddenness of a car accident means that your life and comfort level can change in a flash, transforming you quickly from a successful, confident and social person to someone who is insecure, anti-social and depressed. The inability to perform one’s social, vocational and domestic activities may result in increased isolation and negative feelings.
The more someone spirals downward toward depression and despair, the less likely it is that he or she will be able to overcome chronic pain. After all, stress, anger, frustration and anxiety can increase muscle tension, prolonging recovery in many cases.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)Chronic pain sufferers should know that cognitive behavioural therapy may be a solution. The connection between depression and physical pain is strong, so it follows that these two experiences will improve and worsen together. Treat one, and the other will follow suit. Neglect one and your physical and psychological pain will last longer.Cognitive behavioural therapy is a skills-based treatment that employs different pain management techniques, such as muscle relaxation, visual imagery and diaphragmatic breathing. These practices reduce muscle tension, allowing otherwise tight and wound-up muscles (that are unable to heal) to loosen, unwind and, ultimately, heal. Other coping mechanisms that are taught in CBT include stress management, sleep hygiene and pacing of activities.
The “cognitive” element of CBT requires therapists and clients to work together to understand how negativity and depression are not only a result of pain, but actually contribute to and exacerbate chronic pain. Psychological assessments and therapy can supplement other rehabilitation treatments and therapies such as those performed by chiropractors, physiotherapists and massage therapists.
