Is My Patient Exagerating Their Pain Level?

Is My Patient Exagerating Their Pain Level?

 

 

Many times, when working with clients who have been experiencing lower back pain for a long time (months or even years), the slightest touch or smallest movement will send their pain level through the roof.  Initially, as therapists we may think this to be an exaggerated response, a patient with a low pain threshold, or a patient with other motives.  But can the patient's experienced pain level really be this intense upon light touch or gentle movement?  It is believed that when tissue damage in a body region exists, the nociceptors (nerve cell that responds to painful stimuli) are increasingly stimulated, which amplifies the sensitivity to that stimulus.  You do not get used to pain caused by tissue damage, but become more sensitive to it.  This may cause a doctor to prescribe higher intensity pain medications or refer their patient to the pain clinic.  However, if we take a step back and treat the source of the tissue damage, which many times may be poor body mechanics or posture, we may be able to spare the tissue damage.  Once the pain level decreases we can begin to incorporate more aggressive rehabilitation exercises.  For information on posture and body mechanics, go to Posture & Body Mechanics DVD