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Chronic pain

Osteopathy for
Chronic Pain in Bury St Edmunds

Pain that has continued for several months can affect far more than the painful area itself. It may influence movement, activity, confidence, work, exercise and everyday life. A thorough assessment can help make sense of the symptoms and identify practical ways forward.
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Joshua Toon M.Ost  |  Registered Osteopath

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About chronic pain

Chronic or persistent pain generally describes pain that continues beyond the expected healing time, often for three months or longer. Sometimes there is an identifiable condition associated with the pain. In other cases, symptoms remain even though an injury has healed or investigations have not identified a clear structural explanation.
Persistent pain is real, but the relationship between pain and tissue damage becomes less straightforward when symptoms have been present for a long time. The nervous system, previous injury, physical capacity, activity levels, sleep, stress and general health can all influence how pain is experienced.
This means chronic pain is rarely best understood by looking at a scan or one painful structure in isolation.

What can chronic pain feel like?

Persistent pain can vary considerably from person to person. Symptoms may be constant or intermittent and can fluctuate from one day to another. Some people experience aching, stiffness, sensitivity or sharp episodes of pain. Others find that activities which were previously comfortable begin to provoke symptoms more easily.

Flare-ups

Periods of increased symptoms, often described as flare-ups are also common. A flare-up does not necessarily mean that further damage has occurred, although new or significantly different symptoms should always be appropriately assessed.

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Assessment and treatment

The first step is understanding your individual experience of pain. Assessment considers how the symptoms began, how they have changed, previous investigations or diagnoses, activities that are difficult and what you would like to be able to do more comfortably.
Physical examination may look at movement, strength, joint function and other relevant findings while also considering the wider factors that may be influencing your symptoms.
Osteopathic treatment may include hands-on techniques where appropriate, particularly where pain and stiffness are limiting comfortable movement. However, persistent pain often benefits from a broader approach rather than relying on treatment alone.
This may include education, activity modification, progressive exercise and gradually rebuilding confidence in movements or activities that have become difficult.

Building confidence in movement

When pain has been present for a long time, it is understandable to become cautious about particular movements or activities.
In many cases, recovery involves gradually increasing what the body is comfortable doing rather than continually avoiding movement because it produces some discomfort.
The aim is to find a manageable starting point and progressively build movement, strength and activity according to the individual.
Progress with persistent pain is not always completely linear. There may be better and worse periods, and management can be adjusted accordingly.

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When further medical assessment may be needed

Persistent pain should not automatically be assumed to be harmless simply because it has been present for a long time. If anything identified during your assessment requires further investigation or another healthcare professional’s input, this can be discussed with you. Further medical assessment may be appropriate if:
  • Symptoms are new or changing significantly
  • Symptoms are associated with unexplained weight loss or fever
  • Symptoms are accompanied by progressive neurological symptoms
  • Symptoms follow significant trauma
  • Symptoms cause unusual or progressively worsening night pain
  • Another underlying medical condition is suspected

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Frequently asked questions about chronic pain

Not necessarily. Pain can persist after tissues have healed, and the intensity of pain does not always reflect the amount of tissue damage present. Assessment helps determine whether there are features suggesting an ongoing structural problem or another explanation for the symptoms.
There is rarely a single treatment that removes persistent pain completely. Osteopathic care may form one part of a broader management approach aimed at improving movement, function and confidence while helping you better manage symptoms.
For many persistent pain conditions, appropriately paced physical activity can be beneficial. The starting point and progression should reflect your current abilities and symptoms rather than trying to push through significant increases in pain.
Persistent pain can fluctuate. Changes in activity, sleep, stress, general health and many other factors can affect symptoms. A flare-up does not automatically mean that the painful area has been damaged again.
Imaging findings can be relevant, but changes such as degeneration are also commonly seen in people without pain. Scan findings therefore need to be considered alongside your symptoms and clinical assessment rather than interpreted in isolation.

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