Whilst invisible, pain is very real for the 6.9 million Australians living with musculoskeletal conditions. Whilst debilitating, the reality is that without pain management, a third (34%) of Australians who are impacted by chronic pain, will develop mental health conditions.
Musculoskeletal pain is the leading cause of disability for a third (28%) of Australians which leads to a feeling comparable to burning or tingling, leaving those living with pain unable to work, sleep or even walk.
Osteopath and Pain Educator, Dr Elizabeth Howard talks about the impacts of pain on the whole body. “Pain is one of our internal ‘protective’ signals that we may be in danger. When we feel pain in our muscles, joints or connective tissues, it can be either from actual or even from potential damage that our body is warning us about.
“Musculoskeletal pain can really restrict a person’s life and their ability to function to their desired potential. While people love to be social and get together to walk, play sport or go to the park, if we are restricted by pain, it can really affect our social lives, and then inevitably, our mental health,” Dr Howard says.
As 30%–40% of people with chronic pain report major depression, the uncertainty of a full recovery results in feelings of despair and defeat. This creates a vicious cycle between our physical and mental wellbeing.
“Pain can influence declines in mood and personal wellbeing, creates feelings of fear, anxiety, stress and worry. Sometimes you need to take a look at the whole body and understand the person’s environment to formulate a recovery plan,” Dr Howard said.
Osteopathy considers the pain and the person together to provide a personal therapy, focusing not only on the pain, but also what is going on around it.
“As osteopaths, our task is to look for the main contributors to your pain, and provide education, manual therapy and a management plan that is focused on how you can reduce your pain and prevent re- occurrence,” says Dr Howard.
Advanced Health encourages those struggling with pain to learn more about musculoskeletal health by visiting an osteopath and for those needing assistance with pain-related mental health concerns, we have psychologist consultations available. For further information call our Buderim Clinic 07 5456 2836 or Birtinya Clinic 07 5213 0800
This article thoughtfully addresses the profound and wide-ranging consequences of chronic pain on an individual's quality of life, emphasizing the importance of comprehensive pain management strategies that chiropractors use.