Prehab topics
Find out more about the eight key risk factors by visiting our Prehab topics pages.
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Pain management
Enjoy the knowledge check, and watch our video. Keep scrolling down to see the research and useful signposts…
"Persistent pain is common and can affect anyone."
Flippin' Pain
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Pain can have a massive impact on a person’s ability to prehabilitate for treatment effectively.
Pain management for patients before treatment
Defining pain
The first screening tool is often persistent pain that lasts more than three months in a person who appears and reports being generally well. Patients may report fears about body parts that continue to hurt despite trying many different remedies.
Acknowledging pain
Listen to your patients and acknowledge what they say. Many people with pain feel like health professionals don’t believe them or don’t take the impact of their pain seriously. Acknowledging pain and being empathetic can make a big difference.
Control of pain
When people feel more in control of their pain it can have a positive effect on their general wellbeing. Helping patients to understand the mechanisms of pain and different ways to manage it plays a big role in helping them to achieve this.
Signposting
Patients may feel more empowered to manage their own pain if they are able to hear and see the stories of others who are, or have been, in a similar situation. Signposting patients to reputable online resources can play a big role in facilitating this.
Gentle movements
Physical activity and gentle movement play a big role in helping managing pain. Encouraging patients to achieve this as part of a pain management ‘toolkit’ alongside other support strategies (e.g. medication, psychological support) can be very effective.
Encouragement
Reassure and encourage patients that they can still participate in activities they previously enjoyed. It’s important to discuss that this can still be enjoyable even if they are unable to participate at the same level as before their pain symptoms started.
A closer look at pain management...
How does waiting for treatment affect pain?
Waiting for treatment is often very stressful. Stress significantly impacts on a person’s pain perception and pain experience. Stress hormones increase pain sensitivity and intensity. Simple measures such as providing clear information, allowing people to ask questions and answering truthfully can be effective in reducing stress and therefore pain perception.
How does pain affect physical wellbeing?
Persistent pain often impacts on a person’s quality of life.
- People with persistent pain may reduce or avoid physical activity, which can lead to muscle weakness and stiffness.
- Pain can discourage people from performing normal daily tasks and caring for themselves.
- It is strongly linked to anxiety and depression, which can negatively impact on motivation.
- There is strong evidence that people with persistent pain often struggle to engage with family, friends, activities and hobbies, resulting in social isolation.
What biological factors affect experience of pain?
- Genetic variations in pain sensitivity and response.
- The ability of an individual’s brain to process and manage pain.
- Age and gender are also thought to have an influence
What psychological factors affect experience of pain?
- Mood and stress – anxiety, depression and stress all increase pain.
- Beliefs and expectations – personal differences in beliefs, expectations and pain expression influences the pain experience (e.g. is it socially acceptable for a man to publicly cry in pain?).
- Cognitive ability – can the person understand and explain their pain? Can they implement pain coping strategies themselves or ask for help when in pain?
- Anxiety and depression are linked to a lower pain threshold.
What social factors affect experience of pain?
- Social support – having a strong support network can reduce the impact of pain, while social isolation can worsen it.
- Cultural influences – norms, beliefs, and practices can shape how pain is perceived and expressed.
- Social determinants – socioeconomic status, access to healthcare, and exposure to violence and war can influence pain experiences.
Do any other factors affect experience of pain?
- Sleep – poor sleep can increase pain perception. When your brain is tired it struggles more to cope with pain.
- Trauma and abuse – any experience of personal trauma, abuse, war or violence is associated with increased pain sensitivity and perception.
Links
Signposting
Refer patients to a physiotherapist and/or their GP to help exclude other health conditions that may worry your patient.
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Flippin’s Pain aims to change how people understand and manage persistent pain.
Click the link on the right to learn more.
Various websites provide information on pain management.
Click the links on the right to see the resources.
