America is feeling the pain. In its final 2024 fact sheet, the U.S. Pain Foundation reported that more than 51.6 million adults in this country live with chronic pain, including 7.1 million who suffer from high-impact chronic pain that frequently limits life or work activities.
Chronic pain can be mentally as well as physically debilitating.
“Acute pain is pain that will eventually go away,” says DeAnn Collins, a licensed clinical social worker and behavioral services clinical manager at Health First’s Behavioral Wellness. “You can see light at the end of the tunnel while you’re dealing with it because you know it won’t be forever.
“Chronic pain, on the other hand, can last a lifetime. Eventually, the brain gets tired of fighting it.”
“Relentless chronic pain is destabilizing,” says Dr. Scott Fishman, a pain specialist at the University of California-Davis, who founded its Center for Advancing Pain Relief. Pain can undermine health through multiple mechanisms.
Mental Health America says chronic pain is often associated anxiety and depression because daily pain is physically and emotionally stressful.
Chronic pain causes stress, which is known to change the levels of hormones and neurochemicals found in the brain and nervous system that can affect your mood, thinking, behavior and physical health in harmful ways. Disrupting the body’s balance of these chemicals can cause depression and other diseases in some people.
The Arthritis Foundation explains that with chronic painful conditions, the parts of the brain that send and receive danger signals become more sensitive over time. Scientists say the more the brain processes pain, the more on-guard it gets until it’s stuck on high alert.
Collins says that people often get stuck in a “cycle of pain.”
“They withdraw from friends, activities and everyday life and focus only on their pain. Ironically, they’re giving up some of the very things that will allow them to relax.
“Withdrawing from normal life is dangerous,” Collins adds.
Mayo Clinic concurs, noting that distracting the brain is helpful in reducing overall pain levels.
You may have to live with chronic pain, but it does not need to control your life. Instead, try to keep your attention on activities that improve your function and quality of life.
“Success in living with chronic pain is basically up to the individual,” explains Collins. “We need to keep things in perspective. Stay positive and figure out what is in your control to change.”
Collins says if there was ever a time to applaud the Internet, this is it. “One of the most important things that someone living with chronic pain can do is find a support group. Go online and look for one that fits your needs.
“Learn from the experiences of others. You’ll find quickly that you’re not alone and that there are options you may not have considered. The most important thing you can do on this journey is connect with others.”
The Society of Behavioral Medicine (SBM) is a nonprofit comprised of researchers, clinicians, educators and policymakers from over 20 healthcare disciplines. It says that support groups can be an effective part of managing chronic pain, stating that they offer emotional support, practical advice, and a sense of community that can make coping with pain more manageable.
Sharing experiences with peers also provides valuable insights into coping strategies that might not have been considered.
In addition to a support group, Collins says it’s important to have a medical team, starting with your primary care doctor. He or she can do initial testing and help you get referrals.
Other members of your multidisciplinary pain management team could include an anesthesiologist specializing in pain management, physical therapist, psychologist, nurse and potentially other specialists like neurologists, occupational therapists, pharmacists and social workers, depending on your specific needs and pain source.
There are a multitude of options available to help you live with your pain, says Collins, and you won’t know what works until you give them a try.
For instance, Collins says, “yoga, stretching and gratitude journaling are among the ways people find relief. Medical options include epidurals and surgery. Behavioral intervention, meditation, Tai Chi and cognitive behavioral therapy have also been shown to work.” Massage, acupuncture and herbal remedies help many people.
“Don’t give up,” Collins adds. “Be diligent in your search and consistent when you find out what works.”
Cleveland Clinic says chronic pain usually doesn’t go away, but you can manage it with a combination of strategies that work for you. Chronic pain treatments often reduce a person’s pain score by about 30 percent or more. Treatments also have a significant impact on your quality of life and can lessen the stress associated with chronic pain.
It’s important for people to realize that medical painkillers are not the be all, end all,” cautions Collins. “Build on lifestyle changes one moment at a time. Step by step, you can do it. Get educated about everything that’s out there, including the non-traditional route.”
DeAnn Collins is a licensed clinical social worker and behavioral services clinical manager at Health First’s Behavioral Wellness center in Melbourne, where she oversees intensive outpatient programs and assesses new patients. She specializes in senior mental health needs and treatments. To learn more or make an appointment, call 321-434-7604 or visit HF.org/BehavioralWellness.
