Chronic Pain Syndrome
By Nichole Clayton, PT, ATC
Chronic Pain Syndrome Overview
Chronic pain syndrome affects around 116 million Americans each year. It used to be that someone was defined as having chronic pain if that pain lasted more than 6 months. Now, pain that lasts more than a month is put into that category after the potential for tissue repair might normally occur. This shift indicates that health providers are recognizing chronic pain earlier and are better able to stop negative attitudes and/or behaviors towards the pain.
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Individuals with chronic pain are often advised to participate in a multidisciplinary pain management program. This consists of a team of doctors and other health care professionals including physical and occupational therapists. These therapy practitioners appreciate and can address the full complexity of a client’s chronic pain. Pain is multi-factorial and doesn’t only affect physical ability. Additionally, it affects cognitive ability due to anxiety and high stress levels.
JOI Rehab
Physical and occupational therapists play an important role in managing chronic pain. They administer a variety of evidence-guided treatments that include strengthening and flexibility exercises, manual therapy, posture awareness, and body mechanics instruction. Therapists are able to gradually increase the intensity of active exercises. They also educate the patient about how brain and central nervous system hypersensitivity contribute to their chronic pain. By evaluating the various physical, cognitive, and psychological elements simultaneously at play in someone with chronic pain, therapy practitioners can help clients to cope with and manage their pain so they can accomplish the activities most important to them.
If you are interested in scheduling an appointment at JOI Rehab for physical therapy, call (904) 858-7045. If you need to see a doctor, please click the banner below.
Where is Telemedicine frequently used?
All JOI Physicians, Physical Therapists and Occupational Therapists now offer Telemedicine services for virtual visits from the convenience of your home. If you feel that it is best to stay in your own home during this time, we can still provide orthopaedic Telehealth services for you. Through the download of the free Zoom app on the your phone, tablet or laptop. Our physicians and Telehealth for Physical Therapy can evaluate you and provide the care you need.
- To schedule a new patient or follow up patient appointment with your MD, please call (904)JOI-2000 or read more here about our orthopedic telemedicine providers.
- To schedule an appointment for physical or occupational therapy, call 904-858-7045 or call any of the 12 area JOI Rehab Centers.
JOI Fracture and Injury Care
JOI Physicians are currently offering ASAP Fracture care. Make an appointment by calling (904)JOI-2000. This is a new option for patients who would like to avoid the emergency room if they have suffered a fracture or soft tissue injury. To learn more about this service, read this article about fracture and injury care.