Some of the most interesting advancements in this decade are related to modern medicine and chronic pain. This blog post will discuss the Gate Control Theory of chronic pain and how it is changing the way we look at and understand it. These new developments could have an impact on the way we look at the understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of chronic pain.
During the 16th century, there was a French philosopher and mathematician named Rene Descartes who proposed one of the beginning theories of pain. He believed that the intensity of pain a person feels is directly related to the associated tissue.
For example, when a person simply pricks their finger, they may only experience minimal pain. If the same person were to instead cut off their hand, they would likely experience a much greater level of pain. This theory is known as the “specificity theory” and it is in most cases accurate when applied to certain injuries.
Chronic pain is different, and the treatment of it requires a much more subtle scientific understanding of pain. With that in mind, it is important to realize that a great deal of practitioners still attempt to apply the specificity theory to cases involving chronic pain.
Since the specificity theory is not entirely valid when dealing with chronic pain, it is important to assume another approach. The theory suggests that once the injury causing the pain is cured through medication or surgery, the pain should cease. This is very often not true for chronic pain, as the pain can continue for long periods of time with no apparent cause.
Whether you are suffering from typical pain or chronic pain, there is a chiropractor in Vancouver WA who can help. The Chiropractors at A Family and Sports Chiropractic Clinic believe that your pain is unique, so your treatment plan should be individualized to fit your needs. Click here to learn more about us.