Understanding the Connection Between Mental Health and Chronic Pain
As a neurological response, pain serves as a crucial protective mechanism by alerting you to physical harm or potential injury. Although intended to be temporary and acute, pain can sometimes develop into a chronic, persistent, and intense condition. This can have a significant impact on your mental well-being, as it can alter your pain perception by influencing stress hormone levels and neurochemical activity. The delicate balance of these chemicals plays a significant role in shaping your mood, cognition, and behavior. Any disturbance in this balance can lead to the experience of negative emotions.
About 35-45% of patients with chronic pain also experience depression, which can contribute to fatigue, sleep disturbances, trouble concentrating, decreased appetite, mood changes, and reduced quality of life. For patients with both anxiety disorders and pain, treatment can be difficult. They may encounter anxiety or apprehension regarding treatment, a reduced threshold for pain tolerance, or heightened sensitivity to potential side effects of medications.
Unlocking the Power of Interventional Pain Management
Healthcare providers often find it beneficial to address both chronic pain and mental health conditions concurrently. However, this can be challenging, as everyone experiences pain differently. Working with a medical team that specializes in interventional pain management modalities, however, offers unique benefits to anyone experiencing pain. When coming up with treatment plans, interventional pain management doctors take into account a patient’s overall well-being, lifestyle, and other factors. By directly targeting the root cause of your pain, you’re able to focus on enhancing your overall quality of life and mental wellness.
Interventional Pain Management
Interventional pain management is a branch of medicine that utilizes minimally invasive procedures to manage or alleviate pain. Common interventional pain management procedures include epidural steroid injections, nerve blocks, facet joint injections, radiofrequency ablation, and spinal cord stimulation. Interventional pain management provides a comprehensive approach to chronic pain and is often practiced in conjunction with other treatments, such as physical therapy or chiropractic care – all of which are known to support both physical and mental wellness.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy is a non-surgical treatment option that can help reduce or alleviate chronic pain and address underlying issues. Physical therapists employ a range of techniques aimed at minimizing or eliminating pain, including individually-tailored therapeutic exercises that address pain while promoting strength, flexibility, and overall well-being. By offering personalized care and comprehensive treatment plans, physical therapy can play a vital role in empowering individuals to regain control over their pain and restore optimal function.
Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic care offers a safe and natural approach to managing chronic pain. By focusing on the alignment and function of the spine, chiropractors aim to restore balance to the nervous system, which plays a significant role in overall well-being. Through gentle adjustments, chiropractors can help reduce pain, while also addressing stress levels and mood. By focusing on both the physical and mental aspects of health, chiropractic care provides a holistic approach to pain management and improved quality of life.
Transform Your Life: Pain Management for Total Wellness
The correlation between chronic pain and mental health is profound, but interventional pain management can help enhance your overall quality of life. We encourage you to visit The Spine & Sports Health Center, where our highly skilled interventional pain management doctors, physical therapists, and chiropractors are ready to guide you on your path to recovery. Schedule an appointment at one of our locations in Hoboken, Jersey City, or Bayonne, NJ.
