The picture will link you to the article where the data for this post comes from.
A few years ago in the office I posted on our bulletin board a series of articles that lay this out how chronic pain is affecting brain function. My data was from a number of years ago but, like this more recent data, show how chronic pain can have a serious negative affect on brain function. Chronic pain is basically any pain that we may have that lasts longer than 6 months, although some clinicians say it is pain that lasts longer than 12 months. For a lot of us it is that little twinge of pain that persists over years that may progressively get worse with each exacerbation or aggravation. In practice most of the patients we see have chronic pains with phases of acute exacerbations. For some that chronic pain can last for years and, as this research points out, may negatively affect our brain function.
The good news is that the research notes that the loss or negative changes in brain function are all reversible. Treating to elminate the cause of chronic pain can restore and improve the loss of function. Do not ignore those signs and symptoms your body is giving you. Work to eliminate the causes of chronic pains instead of masking the signs and symptoms.
The care we are giving in the office is aimed at eliminating chronic pain, not just managing symptoms. Our care combined with the BStrong4Life program has been creating great results with patients who have been suffering from chronic aches and pains for years.
