Conquering Pain
Treatments for body and mind break a cycle of agony
Pain's vicious cycle
Chronic pain plunges sufferers into a self-perpetuating cycle of maladies. a back injury, for example, can lead to changes in body, brain, and behavior, making the pain worse.
1 Nervous system changes After an injury, pain nerves (red) can regrow to connect with other types of nerves. So a touch elsewhere on the body can trigger paion.
2 Tensed muscles Pain can trigger muscle tension, making muscles extra sensitive.
3 Mental stress Stress increases the release of the "fight or flight" chemical norepinephrine, leaving both body and mind exhausted.
4 Depression Exhaustion is linked to depression, which magnifies physical pain and restricts serotonin, a neurotransmitter that boosts mood.
5 Disturbed sleep Sleeplessness may follow, exhausting the supply of endorphins, which normally blunt pain.
6 Guarded posture Odd positions taken to avoid pain put strain on other muscles, spreading agony to different parts of the body. Unused muscles lose strength, creating more discomfort.
[Graphic labels]
Before damage; After damage; Relaxed; Tensed; Norepinephrine; Serotonin
WHERE TO GO Find resources for pain control at www.usnews.com:
Body and mind. Drawings show pain-reducing postures and ways to lift things with minimal strain; step-by-step instructions detail relaxation techniques.
Locator. Find links to groups with information about treatment facilities.
Other resources. If you're not on the Web, check out Managing Pain Before It Manages You by Margaret Caudill (Guilford Press, 1995, $19).
advertisement
