TRAUMA & CHRONIC PAIN

Pain Defined: “An unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage, or described in terms of such damage.” (International Association for the Study of Pain).

Chronic Pain Defined:  Chronic pain is pain that is ongoing and usually lasts longer than six months. This type of pain can continue even after the injury or illness that caused it has healed or gone away. Pain signals remain active in the nervous system for weeks, months, or years. Some people suffer chronic pain even when there is no past injury or apparent body damage. Chronic pain is linked to conditions including migraines and Fibromyalgia and emotional effects such a depression and anxiety.  (excerpted from Cleveland Clinic)

 A growing body of research is shedding light on the connection between trauma and chronic pain.

Pain in Patients with PTSD and trauma symptoms are associated with greater reporting of physical health problems and symptoms as well as of functional impairment and increased utilization of our health care system.   Gordon JG Asmundson, PhD et al state in their research, “…It appears that between 10% and 50% of patients receiving tertiary care treatment for chronic pain and related conditions have symptoms that satisfy diagnostic criteria for PTSD, compared with approximately 8% of the general population.”

Bottom line:  Untreated trauma has a real impact – on your quality of life, physical wellness, relationships, employment and healthcare costs.

The circular nature of trauma and chronic pain and the Mind Body Connection

Maggie Phillips, author of Reversing Chronic Pain, writes: "Whether or not trauma was connected to the event or condition that originated their pain, having a chronic pain condition is traumatizing in and of itself."

We are not floating heads:  When we experience a cognitive or psychological injury, it absolutely communicates and attempts to balance out in the physical system.

There is Hope for Healing!

We have deep experience and passion for treatment of folks that struggle with chronic pain and trauma.  This is why we have obtained advanced clinical training in the treatment of trauma, using evidenced-based treatment modalities with a proven track record of success – EMDR, Equine-Assisted Therapy, Exposure and Response Prevention, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Prolonged Exposure.