Welcome to the last article in our series Why You Should See a Pain Management Psychiatrist. This week we’ll look at using newer treatments such as mirror therapy and graded motor imagery for pain.
In chronic pain, pain signals, in a sense, get “stuck” in pain-mode, no longer providing helpful information to you. Chronic pain creates actual changes in your brain. As well, with pain, you often use the body part less, so there are less signals of normal movement going to your brain. This can create a downward cycle:
Pain →
less use of your body →
fewer “normal movement” signals competing with pain signals →
more pain →
less use of your body, etc.
How can you break this cycle?
These newer treatments are based on the concept that re-training your brain can decrease pain.
Mirror therapy uses your visual system to “see” normal movement and reassure your brain that it no longer needs to produce pain signals. Graded motor imagery is a step-wise program aimed at breaking up movement into components, allowing your brain to slowly resume normal movement without producing pain.
Mirror therapy has been shown to be helpful in:
- early CRPS
- phantom pain
- stroke
- low back pain
Graded motor imagery has been shown to be helpful in:
- chronic CRPS
- phantom limb pain
Ongoing research is helping us learn more about these exciting treatments and fine-tune our use of them.
Click here to read other articles about these newer brain-based treatments.
Other articles in this series:
- Why comprehensive treatment works better
- Benefits of a psychiatric evaluation
- Treatment of psychiatric symptoms
- Using psychiatric medications for pain
- Learning psychological skills
- Making positive behavioral changes
- Making positive psychological changes
- Benefits of supportive therapy
- Benefits of a pain support group
- New brain-based treatments
5 responses so far ↓
Jeannette // Jul 13, 2009 at 10:16 am
Thank you for all of the wonderful information that you post regularly. I absolutely love your site!
As a chronic pain sufferer, I appreciate the different options you suggest for dealing with pain. Yes, pain meds are only a portion-
My meds, only take the edge off my pain and bring it from 10/10 to 3or4/10. It is NEVER gone entirely which is where the alternative treatments become essential.
Thanks so much & keep up the great work,
Jeannette :>)
Dr. Connelly // Jul 14, 2009 at 4:50 pm
You hit it right on the money – thanks!
I like to refer to it as neurobics to re train (rewire) the brain.
brad // Jul 15, 2009 at 11:39 am
I have crps and thorasic outlet syndrom, I get releaf from staying active. the trick is to keep your mind on anything other than focusing on the level of pain that your in. Your mind can magnifiy the pain greatly if aloud to focus on only negative stimulus. So keep busy!
Thanks Brad
David Kitchenham // Jul 21, 2009 at 11:04 am
Great resource about Mirror Therapy and I wish to share ours at http://www.mirrorboxtherapy.com. We also provide a ready made portable folding Mirror Box at http://www.reflexpainmanagement.com if you have any questions then please do not hesitate in contacting me on the following numbers:
Thanks again
David Kitchenham
Reflex Pain Management Ltd
UK and Europe +44(0) 161 4086024
US (347) 329-5416
Mobile 07949100240
Thomas Jones // Aug 6, 2009 at 3:22 am
It might be worth noting that there is plenty of information about Graded Motor Imagery available at the http://www.gradedmotorimagaery.com website. I’ve really benefited from it as a resource.
Cheers, Tom Jones
Australia
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