
- Unremitting and constant pain
- Widespread pain
- Is the pain unresponsive to anti inflammatories like Nurofen
- Night pain and or disturbed sleep
Research shows that patients presenting with low back pain and whiplash disorders can develop into chronic widespread pain nearly 1 in 4 times.
Risk factors can be
-Age
-Longer duration of pain
-Anxiety and depression
Chiropractic therapy, can it help?
Manual therapists aim to decrease muscle tension and increase joint range of motion to relieve the musculoskeletal pain
As chronic low back pain is associated with altered spinal and cortical pain processing, Some studies are finding that chiropractic adjustments to the spine has temporal activation of antinoceiceptive pathways. It can also reduce the widespread hypoalgesic effects.
Exercise has shown to trigger peripheral and central processes like the pituitary and hypothalamus to enable analgesic effects.
References
Nijs J, Malfliet A, Ickmans K, Treatment of central sensitisation in patients with 'unexplained' chronic pain: an update. Expert Opinion on Pharmacology 2014: 15 (12): 1671-83
Sluka KA Et al A joint Mobilisation reduces hyperalgesia associated with chronic muscle and joint inflammation in rates . Journal of pain 2006 (8) 602-7
Bender T Et al The effect of physical therapy on beta endorphin levels. European Journal of Applied Physiology. 2007: 100 (4): 371-82