Chronic Pain is More Than Physical

Uncontrollable, persistent pain or chronic pain comes and goes in different phases for many. Some chronic pain patients report intermittent or constant pain and mild to severe pain. Chronic pain conditions are subjective, varying in location and persistency. According to growing bodies of research, impactful pain has a great affect on the body’s immune, neurologic, cardiovascular, endocrine, and musculoskeletal systems.

At Southwest Spine and Pain Center, our 4 Utah locations offer a variety of chronic pain treatments and management techniques to address every pain patient’s needs. Using a holistic approach to treating chronic and persisting pain, our board certified pain specialists uncover underlying causes of pain and the adverse affects that often occur. If you or someone you know suffers from chronic pain, consider looking at all of the potential risks that a diagnosis can pose.

It may sometimes be difficult to understand the internal affects that chronic pain causes because we cannot physically see them. Review these potential complications that often develop as a result of uncontrolled, persistent pain:

Deconditioning Complications. When the body is “deconditioned” it becomes less mobilized than it is in perfect health. Immobilization and deconditioning often leads to muscle, nerve, and joint weakness.

Hormonal Complications.  A chronic pain sufferer’s body will attempt to control and prevent bodily damage, causing an excess production of secretion and bouts of catecholamines and glucocorticoids. This in turn causes adrenal exhaustion and decreased glucocorticoids if it cannot be controlled. Patients who suffer hormonal complications may suffer with symptoms of muscle weakness, edema, osteoporosis, and diabetes.

Neuropsychiatric Complications. Degeneration may take place in the peripheral nerves, spinal cord, and brain when chronic pain persists. Nerve tissue, especially in the spinal column, can cause cerebral atrophy. Chronic pain patients who develop neurological problems can have debilitating symptoms such as insomnia, depression, memory loss, and cognitive deficiencies.

If chronic pain is impacting your life, don't wait to schedule an appointment at Southwest Spine and Pain Center. With three locations and growing, the pain management specialists at Southwest Spine and Pain Center are dedicated to helping those who suffer from chronic pain live the life they want to! To schedule an appointment, visit our locations tab!

The advice and information contained in this article is for educational purposes only, and is not intended to replace or counter a physician’s advice or judgment. Please always consult your physician before taking any advice learned here or in any other educational medical material.

©Southwest Spine and Pain Center, 2014

©Medical Marketing Solutions, 2014