By in Joints & Muscles

Inflammation and Pain

inflammation and pain

I am sure that most of you have experienced physical aches and pains in the body when you are ill. Hips, shoulders and backs often feel stiffer and more uncomfortable for no other reason than our body is dealing with an infection. There is no physical trauma or injury in those areas, yet we are more sensitive to movement and experience physical pain when we do move.

This is because of an increase in inflammatory markers in the body in response to the infection. For no other reason than a rise in inflammation, our shoulders ache and our backs and hips feel stiff and painful. This has a benefit however, as we will move more cautiously and maybe less often which means our whole system has better opportunities and resources to focus on managing the infection.

This is not to say that we should all just go to bed or lounge on the sofa when we are ill as that often does not fit with our family and work commitments, but it does slow us down.

If we were to physically exert ourselves during an illness then the system may not have the same level of resources to give to either the infection or the physical recovery from the exercise. If we do a light activity such as going for a walk then that increases circulation and we feel generally a little better for it. Our aches are less intense after the walk and our focus and attention would improve. We would feel better for a period of time afterwards. Also, a gentle walk will encourage a more efficient recovery through the increase in circulation and getting our lungs and heart pumping a little harder. The efficiency of physical pain and discomfort just slows us down. Essentially, we should listen to, and be guided by the pain but not be fearful and avoidant of it.

Also, exercise to a degree reduces inflammatory levels, so it has a two-fold effect of making us feel a bit better and alert in the short term and aiding recovery in the long term.

Listening to, but not being fearful of moving when in pain is definitely the right way to deal with pain. The evidence base and research into pain over the last 15 to 20 years have generated enough knowledge and data for us to have a far better understanding of how we manage pain despite the fact that the neurophysiology around pain and suffering is so, so complicated. There is still much to understand and admittedly it may never be completely understood and controllable, but the same research identifies pain as an efficient sensation that limits damage through behavioural change rather than a sensation that identifies damage at the source. The complications come because each of us responds differently to pain and some find themselves in a vicious cycle of pain and activity avoidance that is not good for the body and in no way encourages recovery.

If you feel that you need help in managing your pain and activity levels, please get in touch for a consultation and find the individual and personally targeted strategies that could help you finally get out of your cycle of pain. Call The Body Matters on 01702 714968.

This article was written by Matthew Oliver M.OST DO ND. Osteopath.

Louise
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