Pain is something we all experience at one time or another. Whether it’s a stubbed toe or a sore back after a long day, pain is your body’s way of signalling that something isn’t quite right. But what happens when pain doesn’t go away – even after weeks or months?
This is where chronic pain enters the picture. To find out more about chronic pain, how it can affect you physically and mentally, and how chiropractic and osteopathy can help, read on.
Chronic pain in the UK
Chronic pain is a significant and widespread issue in the UK and is thought to affect between one third to one half of the population. This means that millions of people are living with ongoing pain that persists for months or years, affecting their quality of life and ability to work.
What is chronic pain?
Let’s start by understanding the key difference between acute and chronic pain. Acute pain comes on suddenly, usually as a result of an injury, surgery, or illness. It tends to have a clear cause and often goes away once the issue is resolved.
Chronic pain, on the other hand, persists for longer than three months and may continue even after the initial injury has healed. However, chronic pain isn’t just a prolonged version of acute pain. Sometimes, it can appear without a clear cause at all or cannot be fully explained by a medical diagnosis. And unlike acute pain, which signals tissue damage or injury, and resolves with healing, chronic pain does not appear to serve a clear protective function and often persists despite the original injury having healed.
This type of pain can include conditions such as chronic migraines, complex regional pain syndrome, and fibromyalgia.
How chronic pain can affect you
If you are living with chronic pain, you will be familiar with the impact that this has on your quality of life, as it is often accompanied by significant physical, emotional and social challenges – see below for details. You may notice it starts to affect your wider relationships too and that you become anxious about the impact it has on your ability to work or engage in meaningful activities.#
- Physical effects: Muscle tension, limited mobility, fatigue, and poor posture are common.
- Mental and emotional impact: Chronic pain is closely linked with conditions like depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbances. The constant discomfort can lead to frustration, isolation, and a reduced quality of life.
Living with chronic pain
If you have been experiencing chronic pain, you may have been prescribed some form of pain relief, which is usually seen as the easiest solution for managing pain, however this approach has its drawbacks. Public Health England reported that over half a million people have been using opioid painkillers for chronic conditions, like lower back pain, for more than three years. Painkillers can be a practical solution for short-term relief, but they often do not address the root cause of your pain. There are also safer and more effective alternatives for managing long-term pain.
How chiropractic and osteopathy can help
The World Health Organisation recommends that care for those suffering from chronic primary low back pain should be holistic, person-centred, integrated and coordinated. Chiropractors and osteopaths take a holistic, hands-on approach to managing chronic pain. They are also regulated primary health care practitioners who are well positioned to support you in addressing the related issues that often accompany chronic pain, such as anxiety, stress, difficulty in relaxing and ongoing muscle tension.
As such, many people who suffer long-term / chronic back pain benefit from regular, supportive chiropractic and osteopathic care to help manage their symptoms and reduce the risk of recurrent episodes. Managing chronic pain can be complicated, and chiropractors and osteopaths are well placed to support you through active listening, education, exploring how pain affects your life, and creating a tailored treatment plan to help you on your road to recovery. They will work closely with you to guide you throughout your treatment journey, empowering you to take control of your own health.
See below for an overview of some of the treatment techniques used by chiropractors and osteopaths when dealing with chronic pain:
- Spinal and joint adjustments to improve alignment and reduce strain on muscles and nerves.
- Soft tissue therapy to ease muscle tension and improve circulation.
- Postural and movement assessments to identify habits or imbalances that may be worsening your pain.
- Lifestyle advice and rehabilitation exercises to support long-term improvement and prevent flare-ups.
For more information on the WHO guidelines for non-surgical management of chronic low back pain click here.
Tips for managing chronic pain at home
Chiropractors and osteopaths can also offer advice on simple strategies you can use at home to help manage chronic pain – see below for some examples:
- Stay active where possible – Low-impact exercises like walking, swimming, or yoga can help reduce stiffness and improve mood. Always start slow and listen to your body.
- Practice good posture – Poor posture can aggravate chronic pain, especially in the neck, back, and shoulders. Set up an ergonomic workspace, take regular breaks, and be mindful of how you sit and stand.
- Use heat and cold therapy – Apply a warm compress or heating pad to ease muscle tension. For inflammation or swelling, cold packs can be more effective.
- Try relaxation techniques – Deep breathing, meditation, or guided imagery can help calm the nervous system and reduce the intensity of pain signals.
- Stretch regularly – Gentle stretching can maintain flexibility, relieve muscle tightness, and promote circulation. Ask your chiropractor or osteopath for stretches tailored to your condition.
- Maintain a healthy sleep routine – Chronic pain and poor sleep often go hand in hand. Aim for a consistent bedtime, limit screen time in the evenings, and create a calming pre-sleep routine.
Help with chronic pain
We hope that this blog and tips help but living with chronic pain can feel overwhelming, so if you are looking for treatment and support to help with chronic pain, then please get in touch on 0117 972 3518 or book in online.