Pain and chronic pain are the most common causes of suffering after a personal injury: e.g./ car accident, fall at work.
8 things I would help the client understand are below, but first…
Identifying pain early as a significant contributor to suffering, along with recognising the risk factors for chronicity, is essential in guiding individuals toward appropriate pathways for management and care.
The basics to consider at the assessment include:
- recognising the risks from the trauma
- the person’s state when the incident happened
- how the person was initially treated, both in attitude and the quality of care
- prior or existing pains
- their own expectations and beliefs about pain and injury
- the level of pain at the time of injury, directly afterwards and how well it was controlled (this entwines with quality of care and compassion)
- fear and anxiety
Understanding pain is crucial because it establishes a foundation for connection, which in turn makes communication and learning possible.
Without this connection, the important information needed for understanding or helping isn’t effectively communicated.
Checking to see what the person has understood is part of the task.
Delivering the information at the right time when the person is ready makes the difference.
How? Ask-Offer-Ask.
- Ask them
- Offer the information
- Ask them what they have understood
At the soonest opportunity I would ensure the person understands the points below.
8 things about pain I would share
- Pain changes and can get better — it starts with understanding your pain and knowing that overcoming pain is something you do
- Pain and injury are poorly related
- Most of getting better is a skill-based endeavour — day to day living and how you go about it.
- Nothing is permanent
- Pain is generated by your body systems to best explain the current moment
- Pain is a need state — you, your body and body systems have needs to be met
- Realistic timelines to keep expectations and reality in line, and knowing your goals but focusing on the process
- There is great hope
There are others of course, but this is a good start to get the person on their path towards their picture of success.
On-going pain holds up rehabilitation, causing more suffering and more cost.
This is not necessary when the person understands from the outset and receives truly personalised care and guidance.
Overcoming chronic pain is not fixing. The fixing approach does not work.
Passive treatment for chronic pain has no lasting effects and it can easily take the person down the wrong path: wrong thinking, beliefs and expectations that are causing more stickiness.
Hence more suffering and more cost.
We have much better ways that reduce suffering by focusing on the person, their needs, meeting them and working towards their picture of success.
Personal and practical.
Many interrelated factors shape pain. We can control and influence many of them.
That’s the work.
The practice.
There is great hope.
Easing and overcoming chronic pain is an active process. It is learning and personal growth. It is something the person does often with skilful guidance from a specialist professional helper.
For chronic pain, this is a Pain Coach — specifically designed to help people understand and overcome their chronic pain.
Onwards.
RS
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Contact me if you have a client who is struggling and suffering because of their pain. There is much we can do to help them as an individual person — the only way to help them.
Pain Coaching is personal and practical.
I am here to help.