What is Chronic Pain?

There are many causes of chronic pain, including – 

• Previous injury 
• Traumatic injury 
• Illness 
• Surgeries 
• Repetitive stress on the body 
• Musculoskeletal conditions

How may Chiropractic care help with chronic pain?

At Total Health Chiropractic, our chiropractors take a thorough approach to assessment and examination in order to understand your individual presentation and discuss the most appropriate care options.

We use a range of chiropractic techniques that may help manage musculoskeletal contributors to chronic pain. Where further investigation is clinically indicated, we may refer for imaging such as X-rays to better understand the structures involved.

Frequently Asked Questions

How common is chronic pain? Approximately one in five Australians experience chronic pain. There were 3.24 million Australians living with chronic pain in 2018, and it was most commonly reported in women.

Should I put up with chronic pain and ignore it? No. Recurring or persistent pain is worth investigating. Our chiropractors recommend seeking assessment and management as early as possible rather than leaving pain unaddressed.

What can I do about chronic pain? A good first step is booking a consultation with one of our chiropractors to discuss whether chiropractic care may be appropriate for your presentation. If your condition appears to be outside our scope of practice, we will refer you to the most appropriate healthcare professional.

What is the best treatment for chronic pain? Chronic pain has many possible causes and there is no single best approach. Our chiropractors commonly see people experiencing chronic pain with a musculoskeletal component. Following a thorough assessment, they will discuss care options tailored to your individual presentation and goals.

Can I become addicted to pain medication? Some people with chronic pain are prescribed medication to help manage their symptoms. Medications containing opioids carry a risk of dependence with prolonged use. If you have concerns about pain medication, we recommend speaking with your GP or prescribing doctor.

How can chronic pain affect your life? Chronic pain can affect daily life in many ways, including limited range of movement, stiffness and tightness, sleep disturbances, fatigue, reduced energy and productivity, and difficulty with everyday activities and exercise. Chronic pain can be debilitating and may affect a person’s quality of life, social life and emotional wellbeing. People with chronic pain may also experience anxiety or depression as a result of persistent pain.