SPONSORED CONTENT | One in five Australians live with chronic pain[1] and while physical treatment is a crucial piece of the recovery puzzle, it isn’t the only solution.
There’s more to pain than meets the eye
Traditional pain relief typically consists of a combination of tissue-focussed treatment and medication. It’s effective in alleviating some of the discomfort and suffering but it only addresses half of the problem. The side effects of persistent pain aren’t purely physical – they’re emotional too.
Research is starting to show that mental recovery is just as important as physical recovery. In fact, it may just be the key to treating chronic pain.
The power of the mind
The mental side effects of chronic pain can be disheartening and for some, debilitating. Sadly, many people who live with persistent pain suffer in silence. It’s a serious issue but currently there just isn’t enough awareness of the problem. According to Pain Australia, ‘Painful Fact’ this is something that needs to change, particularly when:
- One in five Australians who live with severe pain experience psychological distress.
- Mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression are common.
- 21% of suicides in Australia can be attributed to chronic pain.
- Chronic pain can force people to make significant lifestyle changes, including extended time away from work or being unable to move freely and complete everyday tasks that others wouldn’t think twice about.
Because of the way chronic pain is diagnosed, or not diagnosed at all by some medical professionals, it’s hard to fully understand the severity of the issue. As a result, it’s hard to measure our exact exposure to chronic pain.
Join the Pain Revolution
In order to make positive change, educate, increase awareness and ultimately minimise suffering, we need to change how we think about chronic pain. This starts with acknowledging the importance of both physical and mental health and wellbeing.
Pain Revolution is a community-based educational program that aims to do just this. Through events and initiatives such as the Pain Revolution ride, they’re educating Australians in rural communities on pain science, alternative ways to manage pain and how to prevent persistent pain.
AIA Australia is proud to sponsor the Pain Revolution ride in 2018, which brings together pain experts such as Professor Lorimer Moseley to close the gap between pain science and our experience with pain.
By adopting a new perspective and rethinking chronic pain we can re-engage and with time, help those in need to recover and live happier, more fulfilling and pain-free lives.
Visit https://www.painrevolution.org/ for more information.
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[1] http://www.painaustralia.org.au/about-pain/painful-facts
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