Psychogenic pain syndromes

Chronic pain is pain that lasts more than three months.
It can be:

• moderate or intolerable,

• permanent or episodic,

• causing only discomfort or completely disabling.

Pain signals remain active in the nervous system for months or even years. Chronic pain causes many people to lose their jobs, relationships, and ability to enjoy life.

Causes of chronic pain

1. Chronic diseases: arthritis, cancer, diabetes.

2. Injuries: herniated disc, torn ligament.

3. Primary pain syndromes:

   • neuropathic pain

   • chronic headache

   • fibromyalgia

Emotional component of pain

Chronic pain is closely related to the psycho-emotional state.
It is aggravated:

• anxiety

• depression

• anger

• fatigue

• stress

This creates a vicious circle:
Pain → Psycho-emotional disturbances → Behavioral maladjustment → Social isolation → Increased pain

Psychological nature of pain

In some cases, psychological distress becomes the root cause of pain:

• Somatoform (psychosomatic) disorders

• Demonstrative and hypochondriacal manifestations

• Depression-pain syndrome

• Post-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD)

Comprehensive treatment of chronic pain

For effective treatment, both physical and psychological factors need to be addressed.

Main methods:

• Psychotherapy (mandatory part of treatment)

• Pharmacotherapy

• Transcranial electrical brain stimulation (TES) - pain relief, reduction of anxiety, improvement of psychophysiological state

• Ketamine-assisted therapy is effective for pain, anxiety and depression

• Brain rehabilitation "Neurohelp"

• Body-oriented therapy

• Art therapy

The most common pain syndromes we treat:

• rheumatoid arthritis
• fibromyalgia
• migraine
• chronic pelvic pain