14 New Year, New You Health, Fitness & Beauty


Good news about chronic pain M


any chronic pain suff erers have fearful beliefs that their painful body structures are


fragile, damaged or degenerating and will never recover. And yet, numerous studies have


not shown a link between pain and the amount of degeneration or abnor- malities found on scans and X-rays. Most


injuries heal, so, when pain


persists after three months, we now know it’s often not due to damaged structures but due to neural circuits in the brain and body that have become learned and sensitised. Interestingly, studies suggest that


factors involved in why pain persists after an injury has healed include: anxiety, depressed mood, negative beliefs about pain, beliefs that pain may be permanent, loss of hope for the future, greater history of trauma and certain personality traits. T is could explain why physical


treatments like manual therapy, injec- tions or surgery, which are directed at the painful structures, may have given some temporary ease but not resolved your problem. T is is because these approaches are directed towards the symptoms rather than addressing the


root causes, like fi refi ghters aiming a hose at the fi re alarm instead of the fi re!


The good news is that recovery is possible Although chronic pain is complex, because the brain is not a fi xed organ and is in fact neuroplastic, it’s possible for the neural circuits involved to be reprogrammed, back to pain- free circuits. SIRPA’S treatment approach seeks empower individuals


to in their


recovery journey. It focuses on four main areas: education, emotions, behaviour and lifestyle. All of these could play a signifi cant role in enabling individuals to become more stress-resilient and emotion- ally aware. SIRPA’S emphasis is on replacing fear, frustration and exces- sive focus on the symptoms with curiosity, compassion and calm. T is leads to a healthier and more enjoy- able life. To start with, even just consid-


ering what was going on in your life around the time of the onset of the pain can help you to start considering non-physical factors that might have played a role in its onset.


DISCLAIMER: We recommend that you visit your doctor to rule out symptoms related to organ disease or other tissue damage, such as a fracture, infection, cancer, an immune disorder, or cauda equina syndrome.


Promotional Content • Saturday 6th January 2024


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sirpa.org/sign-up-now and use the discount code


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For more information about SIRPA treatment and past recovery journeys, visit: sirpa.org


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