Case Study – Managing Chronic Pain with Behavioural Therapies
This is Part 4 of a 4 part series on Chronic Pain Management
A 64-year-old male had a 43-year history of low back pain which he attributed to working as a mechanic. Although he had seen a chiropractor, physiotherapist and taken pain medication, these only provided temporary symptomatic relief. He was frustrated that his back would regularly flare up and affect his work. Just doing physical interventions wasn’t working.
Like many with chronic pain, he noted that he had “given up” and that he will “just live with it.” Additionally, this had lead to maladaptive behaviours such as “avoiding bending, gardening and lifting.” Although he had no specific injury or condition either from examination or MRI, he had succumbed to the pain and completely rearranged his whole life around it.
Following just five sessions of behavioural therapy under a trained therapist, he was able to return to gardening and housework with only minimal pain. During this period, he was managed with the following pain management strategies:
- Deep and controlled breathing
- Positive reinforcement
- Therapeutic, relaxing strategies when in pain
- Gradual reintroduction of provoking movements
- Specific exercise programme
After attending these consultations, this gentleman now claims that he “[has] control over the pain.” a “[won’t] fear my pain now.” By addressing his psychological needs, he was able to resume an active lifestyle after years of pain and disability.
What Should I Do Now?
If you’re sick of living with pain and suffering, seek guidance from someone who can help you manage multiple aspects of your life. As shown in this series a negative mindset and changed behaviours can affect your pain and your recovery. Without supporting both your psychological and physical health, you are missing out on a monumental opportunity to return to where you once were. That kind of support happens to be an interest of mine – so book in today into the Ascot Osteopathy clinic or my clinic in Kensington.
