Dealing With the Mental Burden of Chronic Pain

Good Morning! This is The Field Guide to Back and Neck Pain, the newsletter to stay up to date on treatments and symptoms of back pain, neck pain and other chronic pain conditions. Welcome to all new readers! To those that have been here before, thank you, it’s so good to see you again.

Here is what you can expect from today’s edition:

• What is a Pain Psychologist?

• How a Pain Psychologist could help you

• News: Using virtual reality to treat chronic pain

What is a Pain Psychologist?

A pain psychologist is a licensed psychologist who specializes in assessing and treating individuals experiencing chronic pain. Their role is to help patients better understand and manage the psychological and emotional aspects of their pain, which can significantly impact their overall well-being and quality of life.

Chronic pain often leads to emotional distress, such as anxiety, depression, frustration, or anger. Pain psychologists provide emotional support, counseling, and therapeutic techniques to help patients manage these emotional responses and improve their overall mental well-being.

Pain psychologists assess and evaluate the nature and severity of a patient's pain, taking into account the physical, emotional, social, and cognitive aspects of the pain experience. They use various assessment tools and techniques to understand the patient's pain perception and its impact on daily life.

Pain psychologists also educate patients about the nature of chronic pain, its physiological and psychological components, and how it can affect their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. They help patients understand the mind-body connection and how psychological factors can influence the perception and experience of pain.

Keep reading to learn how a pain psychologist could help you!

Laugh through the pain…

How a Pain Psychologist Could Help You

Pain psychologists work with patients to develop individualized pain management plans, set achievable goals, and regularly monitor progress. They adjust treatment strategies as needed to ensure the most effective and personalized pain management approach.

Let’s review some of the strategies used by pain psychologists to help patients cope with their pain.

Pain psychologists provide evidence-based psychological interventions to help patients cope with chronic pain. These interventions may include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness-based stress reduction, relaxation techniques, biofeedback, and guided imagery. The goal is to help patients develop effective pain management strategies and improve their overall functioning.

Pain psychologists also work with patients to modify maladaptive behaviors and thoughts related to pain. They assist in developing healthier coping strategies and lifestyle changes that can improve pain management, reduce disability, and enhance functioning.

As you may know, chronic pain can be exacerbated by stress. Pain psychologists help patients develop stress management skills to reduce stress levels and, consequently, minimize the impact of stress on pain perception and management.

Pain psychologists often collaborate with other healthcare professionals, such as pain physicians, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and nurses, to develop comprehensive treatment plans for patients. This interdisciplinary approach ensures a holistic and coordinated approach to pain management.

Overall, a pain psychologist can play an important role in helping individuals with chronic pain better understand and manage their pain, improve their quality of life, and enhance their overall well-being through psychological interventions and support.

If you feel a mental burden from dealing with chronic pain, ask your doctor for a referral or seek out a pain psychologist on your own. You may be missing out on an incredible resource to help you cope with your pain!

In the news…

The future is now? Check out this article about using virtual reality to help treat and cope with chronic pain.

In case you missed it…

Resources

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About the Author

Les is an invaluable member of the team! He is the Lead Writer for the Field Guide to Back and Neck Pain newsletter. However, Les Payne is just a Pen Name to protect the identity of our expert Lead Writer who is an actively practicing, board-certified expert in the treatment and prevention of back and neck pain as well as other acute and chronic pain conditions. He has years of experience in this field and has treated over 15,000 patients with pain of all kinds!

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