Chronic Widespread Pain Syndrome

Chronic Pain Syndrome is quite often misunderstood as a diagnosis.  This is as much due to the fact that often specialist can't explain the how's and why's of chronic pain.  There no established causal factors and no confirmed effective treatments.  This is something we should find concerning as the first thing they do when you are diagnosed with chronic pain of any sort, is stick straight on various kinds of anti-depressants.

The term Chronic Pain relates to any persistent, long-term pain resulting from anything from were-and-tear or injury.  This pain can often persist long after the injury that caused it has healed.  Current theories as to why this is case tend to relate to scarred nerves or fashion in which the brain processes pain.  Suffice it say there is no one globally accepted reason for chronic pai to persist after a injury or strain has healed.  It is this lack of accepted explanation that makes Chronic pain harder to treat.

Common treatments that are currently offered for chronic pain include anti-depressants, various pain-killers and anti-inflammatories, and, everyone's favourite treatment, pain reduction therapy involving counsellors.  The treatments that we are offered will very much depend on what the suspected cause of the pain is.  Speaking from experience, certain treatments will be more effective then others on the basis your own personal chemistry and background.  I personally found paracetamol is a personal favourite for those days where the joint/back pain is getting too much to continue working with.   I alos notice a sharp rise in my awareness of pain if I forget to take my daily dose of Amitriptyline (Which, ironially, I was very wary of taking to begin with.)  I was offered a trial with a pain management clinicwhich was run by trained pain psychologists however I did not find that there was any benefit for me, although others have found this a recommended option.  Pain management is certainly an important factor in dealing with any pain long-term.

Pain management is a tricking business because we all find different things effective.  I find that taking a joint complex formula contain calcium, Vitamin D, Glucosamin and Chronitin as well as a B complex tablet.  I find this helps repair both the connective tissues around the joints while aiding the repair and function of the nervous system (Which is primarily responsible for the conduction of nerve signals to the brain, and therefore pain signals to the brain.)  Simple changes to your lifestyle can also help, such as correct manual handling of heavy items, or replacing an old or poor mattress for something that is more suited to supporting your back.  Even solutions as simple as getting orthopaedic insoles for shoes can make a world of difference.  The key is to begin looking at the lifestyle you lead and look at things that may be aggravating or even causing pain and making a change to the situation.

Every little change you make helps.  Other important areas to look at are Diet and exercise patterns.  Certain healthy activities aren't actually recommended for certain types of pain eg. thoes with joint/back pain are not recommended to engage in yoga.  However, exercises such as swimming and walking are highly rated as gentle but effective exercises.  Exercise is a necessary part of pain control as it helps achieve a chemical balance in the brain that can reduce pain levels.  So choosing a safe exercise and doing it regularly can increase your general enjoyment of life.  Diet can not be ignored either.  Having a healthy number or fruit and vege in your diet is the quickest way to help your body heal itself.

The ways in which can deal with chronic pain are numerous but nothing will make it leave altogether.   However, you can make life easier for yourself.