Stress and Chronic Pain

The similarities between stress and pain are astounding in how they develop, mature, affect us, and in how they can be treated. They are both warning signs signaling us that something is wrong. Stress can cause pain and pain can cause stress. Our bodies are designed to deal with them for only a short time. Yet when they persist over time and/or increase in severity they can become chronic. Chronic pain and chronic stress change how your brain and nervous system work, which is known as central sensitization, wherein your nervous system is in a constant state of overdrive. This is an ongoing cycle where pain causes stress and stress causes pain, and so it continues.

Breaking this Ongoing Cycle

First, it is important to know that the pain you are going through is not your fault. Understanding the cause of your pain and focusing on the science behind this cycle gives you the upper hand in the battle against your pain, allowing you to understand where you can redirect that focus and positively change things with new coping strategies. And secondly, it’s time to look at the more positive things such as how to break your pain and stress cycle and improve your life. Understanding what is truly and initially causing your pain is a great start.

• Avoiding situations because you are worried about the effect it will have on your chronic pain can make your pain worse rather than better. Understanding the science behind it will help you change this behavior.
• Gentle exercising on a regular basis can help break the stress-pain cycle.
• A healthy diet ensures that your body is getting the proper nutrition it needs to battle against the pain. Poor nutrition such as fatty foods and alcohol can contribute to many of the stress-pain cycle symptoms.
• Focusing on your pain can amplify it which, in turn, amplifies your stress. Give yourself and your total you a break. Socialize more, start a hobby, exercise, and give yourself a goal to minimize the pain and ease your stress.
• Sleep. Not just any sort of sleep, but sound sleep is so important for everyone let alone someone coping with chronic pain and stress. Your body and mind need to beneficially reboot each day. To sleep more restfully, exercise during the day, eat a healthy diet, and relax before bedtime.

It is very possible to break your chronic pain-stress cycle. It takes time, but it can be done, and Michigan Pain Consultants will help you every step of the way.

Contact Michigan Pain Consultants Today

Talk with the professionals at Michigan Pain Consultants today about breaking the Chronic Pain-Stress Cycle. We can help you with various exercise, dietary, and other wellness programs to fit your lifestyle.

Make an appointment for a new patient consultation with one of our board certified pain physicians. All of Michigan Pain Consultant’s physicians are Board Certified in Anesthesiology or Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and have advanced training and experience in Pain Medicine. You can begin first by visiting online at MyLifeBeyondPain.com, MichiganPain.com, or by calling them at (800)281-3237.

With six locations throughout West Michigan, Michigan Pain Consultants comprehensive interdisciplinary approach to pain care offers patients and providers renewed hope for relief from chronic pain. Chronic pain should be treated like other chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, asthma, or congestive heart failure. Chronic pain requires chronic treatment. The goal of the treatment is to optimize the management of the pain, as opposed to curing the pain.