Queensland’s first physiotherapist, Claire O’Connell, helps patients cope with their chronic pain by teaching them how to manage their condition and improve their quality of life.
There are many ways to manage chronic pain, but one of the most important is to understand your pain and what triggers it. If you experience chronic pain, you can contact a physiotherapist in Adelaide.
For Claire, this meant learning about the different types of pain that can affect people with chronic conditions. “There are three main types of pain: nociceptive, inflammatory and neuropathic.
Nociceptive pain is the most common and is caused by injuries or surgery. Inflammatory pain is caused by inflammation in the body and can be a response to infection or injury. Finally, neuropathic pain is caused by damage to the nervous system and can be caused by diseases like diabetes or cancer.”
Once she understood the different types of pain, she was able to help her patients identify their pain triggers and develop a plan to manage them. “For example, if someone has nociceptive pain, they might be able to take over-the-counter pain medication or use heat or cold therapy to help relieve their pain. If someone has inflammatory pain, they might need to take anti-inflammatory medication or use specialised creams or ointments. And if someone has neuropathic pain, they might need to take medication to help control the pain.”
Claire also helps her patients manage their chronic pain by teaching them to stay active and maintain a healthy lifestyle. “Exercise is really important for people with chronic pain, because it can help reduce inflammation and improve joint function. Eating a healthy diet is also important, because certain foods can trigger inflammation. And getting enough sleep is crucial, because when we’re tired, our pain tolerance goes down.”
By helping her patients understand and manage their chronic pain, Claire makes a real difference in their lives. “Chronic pain can be really debilitating, and it’s so important to have someone who understands what you’re going through. I’m just grateful that I can help my patients cope with their pain and improve their quality of life.”
There are many ways to manage chronic pain, but one of the most important is to understand your pain and what triggers it.
For Claire, this meant learning about the different types of pain that can affect people with chronic conditions. “There are three main types of pain: nociceptive, inflammatory and neuropathic. Nociceptive pain is the most common, and is caused by things like injuries or surgery. Inflammatory pain is caused by inflammation in the body, and can be a response to infection or injury. Neuropathic pain is caused by damage to the nervous system, and can be caused by diseases like diabetes or cancer.”
Once she understood the different types of pain, she could help her patients identify their own. Claire believes that education is the key to managing chronic pain, and she has developed a program that provides information and resources to help people understand their condition and make lifestyle changes to manage their pain better.
The program includes education on topics such as pain neuroscience, self-management strategies, exercise prescription, and sleep hygiene. Claire also provides one-on-one support to help people implement the program into their lives.
The program aims to help people live fully despite their chronic pain. If you or someone you know is struggling with chronic pain, contact a physiotherapist in Adelaide to learn more about this program.
