chronic pain / fatigue

Pain that persists for more than 12 weeks despite medication or treatment is referred to as chronic or persistent pain. Most people recover from pain following an injury or operation and return to normalcy. However, there are situations when the pain lasts longer or appears suddenly without any prior history of an accident or surgery.

chronic pain / fatigue conditions

ARTHRITIS PAIN

Inflammation and pain in the joints and bones are symptoms of the common disorder known as arthritis. Physiotherapy is a very effective treatment for easing arthritis-related symptoms.

Symptoms

Long term (chronic) pain that varies significantly in frequency, severity and characteristics
Joint stiffness
Joint inflammation that can vary in severity and joints present a lot larger than normal
Joint deformity especially in rheumatoid arthritis
Reduction of movements in the affected joint as a result of chronic pain, swelling and stiffness
Poor mobility if lower limb joints are affected
Poor function
One joint or several joints may be affected
Small lumps can develop in affected joints but are usually harmless
Inflammation of surrounding soft tissues such as the tendons
Anaemia, fever, fatigue and weight loss may occur in some cases.
Muscle aches and pains

There is no known cure for arthritis, but there are a number of therapy choices that can lessen its long-term pain and other symptoms. Analgesics (painkillers), disease-modifying anti-rheumatic medications (DMARDs), routine exercise, and physiotherapy are all possible forms of treatment.

Causes
Inflammation and pain in the joints and bones are symptoms of the common disorder known as arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis are the two main types of arthritis.

Osteoarthritis, which produces discomfort and swelling, is primarily brought on by wear and tear of the bone ends of a joint during movement.

The more severe form of arthritis, known as rheumatoid arthritis, is brought on when the immune system assaults and damages the body's own tissues, in this case, the joints. The damaged joints become painful, swollen, and deformed as a result..

PT management

Pain control modalities
Heat orcryotherapy (ice)
Hydrotherapy
Acupuncture
Electrical stimulation:e.g. TENS
Massage
Basic cardiovascular exercises to help improve overall fitness and health levels
Strengthening exercises to reduce muscular deconditioning
Education on how to make lifestyle changes that may affect your condition
Functional activities
Postural advice for arthritic conditions that affect the spine

CHRONIC BACK PAIN

A deep, dull, or scorching pain in one area of the back is a common symptom of chronic back pain, and in some situations, the pain may radiate down the legs. In contrast to acute back pain, which goes away in less than 6 weeks, chronic back pain occurs repeatedly or lasts longer than 12 weeks. Seldom does any type of conventional medication or treatment successfully treat chronic back pain. Chronic back pain sufferers struggle with basic everyday tasks, may not be able to undertake manual labor-intensive occupations, and may not be able to continue with certain hobbies.

Physiotherapy is a really efficient approach to assist you get rid of the issues you're having that is associated with Chronic back pain.

CAUSES
Vertebrae are a variety of tiny, connected bones that make up the spine. The fluid-like discs that separate the vertebrae serve as shock absorbers, cushioning your bones and enabling your back to bend. Your spine is supported by numerous muscles and ligaments that run along it both at rest and as you move. The spinal cord, a bundle of nerves that transmits signals from the brain to the rest of the body, is also housed in the spine.

Back pain is frequently brought on by trauma or degenerative changes that affect a portion of the spine. Persistent back pain and related diseases like sciatica can also be brought on by disc issues like herniation or slipped disc.

Various causes include :

Trauma
Overuse injuries
Stand, sit or bend down for long periods
Poor manual handling
Heavy lifting
After a trip or a fall
Emotions – stress or anxiety
Tension
Overweight

SYMPTOMS
You can feel a deep, aching, or searing ache in one area of your back if you have persistent back pain. Persistent back pain can develop gradually over time if you repeatedly strain your back, or it can strike suddenly after an unpleasant back twist or after carrying a heavy object. It's also possible for the pain to appear out of nowhere. Your back pain may range in intensity from minor to severe. Mainly, the symptoms are centred in your back but in certain circumstances it can move to one or both of your buttocks, thighs and legs. In your legs, you can feel tingling, burning, or like you have pins and needles. Rest can help the discomfort ease because it is frequently made worse by exercise. Chronic back pain persists for several months.

PHYSIOTHERAPY MANAGEMENT

Physiotherapy treatment may include:

Pain control modalities
Heat orcryotherapy (ice)
Massage
Acupuncture
Electrical stimulation
Hydrotherapy
Education on how to make lifestyle changes that may affect your condition
Basic cardiovascular exercises to help improve overall fitness and health levels
Functional activities

CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME

INTRODUCTION
(CFS, Myalgic encephalomyelitis)
An illness portrayed by outrageous fatigue, rest issues, throbs and different signs that are escalated with exertion. It is more considered normal in ladies.

SYMPTOMS
• Aversion to light
• Migraine
• Delicate lymph hubs
• Weariness and shortcoming
• Muscle and joint torment
• Powerlessness to think
• Sleep deprivation
• Distraction
• State of mind swings
• Disarray
• Poor quality fever
• Misery

CAUSES
The reason for persistent weariness disorder is as yet unclear. A blend of variables might involve, include:
 Hereditary qualities
 Contaminations
 Physical or profound injury
 Issues with energy utilization

PHYSIOTHERAPY MANAGEMENT
 Education
 Movement and strengthening exercises
 Manual therapy

FIBROMYALGIA

INTRODUCTION
The words "fibromyalgia" stand for pain (algia), stiffness (my), and tenderness (fibro) felt in the body's muscles, joints, tendons, and fibrous tissues. Chronic fatigue and a lack of energy are further features of fibromyalgia. There is no tissue damage, deformation, or inflammation within the painful tissues involved, despite the considerable and incapacitating pain in some places of the body. Moreover, fibromyalgia does not harm the internal organs of the body. Extreme exhaustion and chronic, widespread pain are long-term effects of fibromyalgia. Many different bodily parts may experience painful or burning pain. One effective way to help lessen fibromyalgia symptoms is through physical therapy.

CAUSES
Fibromyalgia's etiology is mostly unknown, but it is frequently attributed to a confluence of physical and psychological causes.
Pain experienced by fibromyalgia patients is a unique experience.
Thought to be brought on by small alterations in certain substances in the brain and neurological system.
The chemical component P has been found to be present in higher concentrations in the cerebrospinal fluid, the material that surrounds the brain and spinal cord in people with fibromyalgia (CF).
There have also been indications of elevated nerve growth factor and decreased serotonin levels.
The way pain signals are transferred between the brain and the neurological system may be interfered by these changes in chemical levels in the brain and spinal cord, leading to anomalies in how pain is perceived.
Patients have an aberrant perception of pain or an oversensitivity to pain signals in the brain, both of which may be caused by slight chemical changes in the brain, is another possible cause of the condition.
Also, it's believed that fibromyalgia patients have irregular sleeping habits and a non-rapid eye movement phase impairment, which could account for their weariness and lethargy.
*Further links have been drawn between psychological distress, trauma, and infection and the development of fibromyalgia.

SYMPTOMS

Headaches , Pain, Fatigue
Pins and needles
Disturbed sleep
Irritable bowel – diarrhoea or constipation and nausea
Cognitive problems – reduced concentration, memory problems and communication difficulties
Dizziness
Sensitivity to lights, noise, smoke and changes in weather
Clumsiness
Stress, depression or anxiety
Reduced fitness as a result of the decrease in activity

PHYSIOTHERAPY MANAGEMENT
Your physiotherapy will include:

Pain modalities
Manual techniques
Heat orcryotherapy (ice) – for muscle and joint pain
Stress management and relaxation techniques
Massage
Electrical stimulation
Hydrotherapy
Stretching and strengthening exercises for affected areas to prevent deconditioning
Cardiovascular exercise to improve overall health and fitness levels
Educati on how to make lifestyle changes that may affect your condition – advice on diet, managing sleep and managing rest
Postural education
Acupuncture
Functional activities to help problems associated with daily living

NERVE PAIN / NEURALGIA

INTRODUCTION
When given a discomfort to the nervous structure , it may cause pain .

CAUSES
• Infections (chicken pox )
• Diabetes
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Compression to nerves.

SYMPTOMS
• Severe, sharp , shooting pain.

PHYSIOTHERAPY MANAGEMENT
• Electrical stimulation.
• Modalities like TENS, IFT, Ultrasound etc.
• Breathing Exercises-Deep breathing exercises.
• Cardiovascular exercises.
• Patient education on proper diet, sleep and rest .

NEUROPATHIC PAIN

Introduction
Neuropathic pain can happen, if our nervous system is damaged or not working properly. Pain is felt from any level of the nervous system, that is, peripheral limbs, spine and brain Neuropathic pain may be like pain from usually a non-painful stimulus like brushing of skin.
Pain may be felt continuously or episodically. If the pain is episodic, it resembles stabbings or electric shocks.

Symptoms
o Coldness or burning sensation
o Pins and needles sensation
o Numbness
o Itching
o Often feels like shooting, stabbing or burning sensation
o Sometimes, it can be as sharp and as sudden as an electric shock
o May be sensitive to cold or touch and can experience pain.

Causes
o Diabetes mellitus-as part of diabetes affecting nervous system (Describe pain as
stabbing, burning or tingling)
o Multiple sclerosis
o Metabolic disorders
o Infections
o Nutritional deficiencies
o Spinal cord injury
o Cancer (the tumor itself or as a side effect of chemotherapy)
o Radiation injury or surgery
o Strokes
o Amputation

Physiotherapy treatment
o Laser treatment
o Neuro stimulation techniques
o Movement representation techniques (mirror therapy and motor imagery)
o Muscle strengthening exercises
o Endurance exercises

PHANTOM PAIN

Introduction
Phantom pain is the experience of pain in a body part that no longer belongs to
you.

Causes
-Following an operation to amputate a limb.
-Following an accident

Symptoms
-Scalding pain
-Itching
-Soreness
-Irritation

Physiotherapy Management
-Massage
-Meditation
-Electrical devices that lessen pain
-Taking care of your skin
-To reduce edema, there are socks available.
-Walking exercise

POSTHERPETIC NEURALGIA

INTRODUCTION
Postherpetic neuralgia is constant and severe pain that affects the trunk of the body. It most commonly occurs as a result of an infection or shingles and may persist beyond the initial rash. Shingles is an infection that affects the nerves which then results in a rash on the affected area. Postherpetic neuralgia is the pain that continues after the rash as gone.

CAUSES
 Chemical irritation
 Diabetes
 Infections, such as shingles, syphilis, and Lyme disease
 Porphyria – group of metabolic disorders affecting nerves and skin
 Certain medication
 Swelling and irritation (inflammation)
 Trauma (including surgery)
 Chronic renal insufficiency

SYMPTOMS
 Constant burning pain around the affected area.
 Sharp, stabbing pains that come and go
 Dull pain that persists beyond the initial episode
 Itchiness around affected area
 Tenderness and sensitivity around the affected area of skin
 Discomfort caused by small pressure such as clothes rubbing

PHYSIOTHERAPY TREATMENT
 Pain modalities for the affected area
 Electrical stimulation to reduce pain
 Stress management
 Relaxation techniques
 General stretching and strengthening exercises
 Cardiovascular exercise
 Hydrotherapy
 Functional activities

TRIGEMINAL NEURALGIA

Introduction
Trigeminal neuralgia is a disorder that makes one side of the face experience pain that feels like an electric shock. The trigeminal nerve, which transmits feeling from your face to your brain, is impacted by this chronic pain syndrome. Trigeminal neuralgia patients may experience agonizing pain when even minor facial stimulation, such as tooth brushing or applying makeup, occurs.

Causes
Typically, the issue is contact between the trigeminal nerve at the base of your brain and a typical blood vessel, in this case an artery or a vein. The nerve becomes damaged as a result of the pressure this contact puts on it. While one of the most frequent causes of trigeminal neuralgia is compression by a blood vessel, there are numerous other possible reasons as well.

Symptoms
One or more of these patterns may be present in the symptoms of trigeminal neuralgia:
Acute, shooting, or jabbing pain episodes that can seem electric shock-like
Pain that comes on suddenly or that is brought on by actions like stroking the face, chewing, speaking, or brushing teeth
Pain attacks can last anywhere from a few seconds and several minutes
Face spasms can cause pain.
Several attacks occurring at once and continuing for days, weeks, months, or longer – some patients experience pain-free intervals.
Trigeminal nerve-supplied areas such as the face, jaw, teeth, gums, lips, and, less frequently, the eye and forehead can experience pain.
One side of the face is constantly in pain.
Whether pain is localized or dispersed across a larger area quite infrequently

Physiotherapy management
The patient's needs and goals are the main emphasis of the TN physiotherapy treatment.
Physiotherapy treatment of TN patients is effective and includes:
Interferential Therapy (IFT) Ultrasound.
Physiotherapy Management will also try to reduce pain and enhance the capacity to carry out activities of daily living (ADLs) by using Electrical Stimulation (TENS), which is the most effective and often utilized approach.
Face pressure and pain relief with acupuncture, irrational neck exercises ,relaxation methods, such as practicing deep breathing ,
Cardiovascular training to raise fitness and health levels ,
Functional Activities to Address ADL-Related Issues ,Patient education regarding diet, sleep hygiene, and rest .

UNDIAGNOSED CHRONIC PAIN

INTRODUCTION
Even though chronic pain is regarded as a problem in and of itself, the word also serves as a catch-all for the many illnesses that are linked to it. Each of these conditions—back pain, leg pain, pain from diabetes or cancer, fibromyalgia—is a world unto itself, with unique causes and therapeutic outcomes.

CAUSES
-Trauma
- Overuse accidents
- Joint issues
-Injuries to the back, neck, and spinal cord
-Shingles\s-Osteomyelitis\s-Arthritis\s-Cancer
- Headaches and migraines — Fibromyalgia
-Emotions such as stress, tension, or worry
-Overweight

SYMPTOMS
- Deep, aching pain in the place that is afflicted
- Radiation of the pain to another area
– The pain may be piercing or stabbing
- Poor sleep hygiene or insomnia
-Fatigue
-Reduced fitness levels, decreased energy levels, and poor general health
-The morning and the evening are the worst times for symptoms

PHYSIOTHERAPY MANAGEMENT
-Pain management techniques
-Heating or cooling treatments -Electrical stimulation Basic cardiovascular
activities, hydrotherapy, and massage can all help you become more physically fit
and healthy.
-Exercises that build muscle strength to prevent muscular deconditioning.
-Information on how to adjust your lifestyle in a way that might benefit your
condition.
-Functional activities

HOW DOES CARDIOVASCULAR REHABILITATION HELP IN RECOVERY?

Heart and circulation issues are referred to as cardiovascular issues. One important system that is essential to your survival is your cardiovascular system. This is why, if there is a problem, it is crucial to receive efficient treatment. Cardiovascular issues can be quite crippling, and physiotherapy is essential to recovery. The goal of physical therapy is to gradually get the patient back to their previous level of activity.

A skilled physical therapist will evaluate your cardiovascular health, pain thresholds, and muscle strength. Either at home or at one of our clinic locations, assessments can be given. You will have the chance to review the assessment's results and set specific goals with your therapist. A short-term objective would be to walk 10 metres with a stick in two weeks. To swim three laps of the pool in five minutes might be a more long-term objective. Goals vary from person to person and are based on your present level of fitness, your interests, and your aspirations. To assist you in achieving these goals within the allotted time span, your physiotherapist will collaborate closely with you.

You will be given an exercise regimen to follow outside of therapy sessions by your physiotherapist. These workouts will help you achieve your goals and be interesting, difficult, and exciting. You must learn how to warm up before exercise and cool down afterward if you want to securely control your heart rate. Your physiotherapist will assist you in learning how to keep an eye on your angina symptoms to lower the likelihood of developing future cardiac issues.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF CARDIOVASCULAR REHABILITATION ?

The wide variety of benefits include:
Increased cardiovascular fitness
Increased flexibility and range of movement
Exercise in confidence with the supervision of a specialist physiotherapist
Decrease your risk factors for further cardiovascular problems
Learn the best exercises for you to do in the gym or at home
Learn how to integrate fitness and exercise into your daily routine
Maintain your motivation to keep your risk factors under control
Access to a gym or hydrotherapy pool

Bethany Navajeevan Physiotherapy Clinic
& Rehabilitation Centre

'Learn to Heal' with Care & Compassion

chronic pain / fatigue