Chronic Pain – Causes, Symptoms and Physiotherapy
Chronic pain is pain that lasts longer than three months, often even after the original injury has healed. Although it can be hard to live with, in many people it can be eased with a combination of movement, therapy and changes in daily life.
What chronic pain is
Pain is usually a signal of damage, but with chronic pain the signal continues after the tissues have healed, or it is linked to a long-term condition such as osteoarthritis. The nervous system can become more sensitive and “turn up” pain signals, so the intensity sometimes does not match the visible state of the tissues.
Chronic pain most often affects the lower back, neck, shoulders, knees and other joints and muscles. It affects not only the body but also sleep, mood and daily activities, and fear of movement often leads to even more stiffness and weakness.
Complete removal of the pain is not always a realistic goal, but in many people pain reduces while function and quality of life improve. The best results usually come from gradual, patient and individually planned treatment.
What contributes to chronic pain
- a long-term condition such as osteoarthritis or disc changes
- incomplete recovery after injury or surgery
- muscle imbalance and poor posture
- reduced physical activity and fear of movement
- stress, lack of sleep and anxiety
- increased sensitivity of the nervous system to pain
How it shows up
- pain lasting longer than three months
- dull, burning or constant aching
- stiffness and limited movement
- fatigue and reduced endurance
- disturbed sleep
- irritability and low energy
How we can help
We start with a thorough assessment to understand how pain affects your movement and what makes it worse. We combine manual therapy, therapeutic massage, therapeutic exercise with gradual loading and physiotherapy equipment – electrotherapy, magnet, laser, TECAR or shockwave therapy – to ease symptoms. The goal is to improve your function and give you tools to cope with pain in daily life. When needed, we will refer you to a specialist.
When to see a doctor
See a doctor if the pain changes in character, worsens quickly or does not ease with rest, especially at night. Seek help also for unexplained weight loss, fever, numbness, increasing weakness or pain after an injury. Urgent help is needed for severe chest pain, a sudden severe headache, or loss of bladder or bowel control.
This page is for information only and does not replace an assessment by a specialist.