Chronic pain treatment

We speak of chronic or persistent pain when the pain persists for more than three months. Unlike acute pain, chronic pain often has no clearly identifiable cause or is not associated with an active injury or disease process.

What do we do?

During a consultation with the doctor of physical medicine and rehabilitation, a diagnosis can be made based on a clinical examination and possibly additional medical imaging. Chronic pain is caused by a hypersensitive nervous system. You often experience not only physical, but also emotional and social consequences. This is why it is important to address the problem in a multidisciplinary way. The aim is not only to reduce the pain but also to improve the quality of life. An individual treatment plan is drawn up depending on your specific situation and needs.

During rehabilitation, you will be supervised in several areas:

  • Physical therapy: during the exercise program you will train your fitness and muscle strength and try to regain (movement) control over your body.
  • Occupational therapy: together with an occupational therapist you look at whether adjustments to your lifestyle are needed.
  • Psychology: a (pain) psychologist can help you understand yourself and your condition better. This way you regain more control over your own life.

Common disorders

Conditions that often require chronic pain treatment:

Central sensitization

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)

Fibromyalgia