Chronic pain is a complex and debilitating condition that affects millions of people worldwide. When looking at what causes chronic pain, we will never be able to blame it on one thing or one root cause, as pain itself is complex and dependent on multiple factors. Therefore, it’s important, when looking at conditions associated with chronic pain, that we consider all the biological, psychological, and social factors involved.
While the list for diagnoses that fall under chronic pain grows exponentially every year, the ones that appear to be the most common include:
Injuries have the potential to start the processes that are related with the development of chronic pain, especially those that are the result of traumatic accidents (car accidents, high force sports injuries, etc). Managing chronic pain due to injuries can be very challenging as pain and damage are never correlated well. What this means is that pain may persist despite the fact that the injury was treated and healed effectively.
Additionally, it’s important to acknowledge other psychosocial stressors that are impacting one’s condition. Individuals who sustain traumatic injuries often face emotional distress and increased frustration, especially if the injury prevents them from returning to their sport or work. This can lead to other symptoms, such as anxiety, depression, fatigue, on top of all the other physical manifestations of the original injury.
Understanding and addressing these factors is crucial to developing effective treatment for chronic pain that can help individuals recover and regain their quality of life.
Absolutely NOT. There is no such thing as psychosomatic pain! Pain is never all in your head no matter what anyone tells you. People who struggle with chronic pain are often stigmatized in the healthcare industry and are told that the pain is all in their head, which could not be further from the truth. In reality, this stigmatization of individuals with chronic pain has only resulted in worsening symptoms for many individuals who are already currently struggling.
When looking at the definition of pain, the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) defines pain as “an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with, or resembling that associated with, actual or potential tissue damage.”
While you will find a number of different organizations and healthcare providers defining different types of pain, the IASP only recognizes three distinct types of pain:
It’s important to acknowledge that when you experience pain, it’s always 100% real and can only be felt by you. No matter how many images or tests show that there may not be anything inherently wrong, it does not mean your pain is all in your head. It just means we must account for all the various biological, psychological, and social factors influencing the three mechanisms above.
At DMR Move, we do our best to provide hope to the hopeless. A majority of our clients are individuals who have tried numerous other interventions or rehab clinics with limited success. Our chronic pain program is designed to teach you practical skills that are responsible for REAL change for people who are struggling.
Our chronic pain program has proven results to help move you towards a more meaningful and fulfilling life. By using the world-renowned Human Rehabilitation Framework (HRF™), one of our highly qualified chronic pain treatment specialists will complete a thorough, personalized evaluation that goes over your full history, your physical exam, a movement exam, and learns about the unique interconnected factors that make you, YOU. From there, they will help you to develop a comprehensive plan to move forward. This plan includes:
Most of our clients have seen at least 6 other healthcare providers with little improvement or worsening function before coming to us. On average, our clients demonstrate 25–50% improvements in their personalized, quality of life measures in just 7 visits!
If you have been struggling with chronic pain and are looking for an approach that can help you learn to work with your symptoms and improve your quality of life, we encourage you to contact us today. Our entire mission is built on inspiring hope and promoting growth in your life. Schedule an appointment with DMR Move, and learn more about how we can help you on your path to recovery.
According to the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP), chronic pain is defined as pain that persists beyond 3–6 months. It’s important to recognize that there is no gold standard test or image to diagnose you with chronic pain and ultimately is dependent on the individual experiencing symptoms. Pain is always 100% real and 100% subjective to the individual who is experiencing it, meaning that no one else can tell you how much pain you are in.
Chronic pain is a significant public health problem that affects millions of people worldwide. According to the IASP, chronic pain affects approximately 20% of the adult population globally with estimates of roughly 25 million people in the US alone.
Struggling with chronic pain is a very exhausting and debilitating condition. People who are faced with these symptoms often experience neurological, endocrine, and immune changes that tend to affect overall heart rate, blood pressure, and fatigue levels. While it may seem that the list of diagnoses can grow when living with chronic pain, our movement and pain specialists at DMR Move can help you make sense of your symptoms by addressing all the various interconnected factors that make you, YOU!
Chronic pain can impact daily life both physically and mentally. Many individuals who are diagnosed with chronic pain also experience symptoms such as fatigue, loss of motivation, anxiety, increased fear, and depression. These symptoms together have been known to take a toll on individuals making it much more difficult to get through a normal day.
“I have tried different physical therapies, chiropractics, injections and this is the first time I have seen results.”
Annedrea“I’ve had ongoing back and neck pain for 10 years and Leonard has been a huge help. He’s extremely knowledgeable about the body and how it responds. I’ve tried PT before with little to no results. This place is very different, they work to give you long term relief rather than just a bandaid for pain!”
Rachelle"Telehealth is so simple and easy to use, I was amazed at how well it worked to connect me with my therapist right from my home! Although had initially been skeptical that physical therapy could be done through a remote computer session, I soon found myself at ease as we watched each other go through the movements and exercises. The feedback from the therapist was immediate, and I was able to ask questions, exactly like any regular in-person session. Best of all, there was no commute!"
Heather"For those skeptical of an online or telehealth format for Physical therapy, have undergone treatment with DMR both face- to -face and also via telehealth. The treatment that I received under both modalities has been quality and outcome based. DMR's approach to physical therapy and pain management, being Biopsychosocial, lends itself extremely well to online treatment. DMR was able to engage both on a educational level regarding pain management and also was able to model and observe my response to various exercises and movements specific to my goals in pain management. also find his responsiveness to providing me outlines or reviews via e-mail after session as very helpful in organizing my home program to wellness."
MaryI have Ben as the person I see he is and amazing guy always listen to my concerns and helps me find the best game plan for my body to help get me back on track after my injury Luka there office guy is amazing he is always so nice and so help full when I need to know my appointment and if I need to help reschedule he is always on it very amazing place I will always recommend them to every on that need physical therapy
AustinI've struggled with back and shoulder pain for years, periodically visiting several different physical therapy locations. DMR was the first place that gave me real results. Their basic philosophy? You can do any number of stretches and exercises in a therapy center, but if you aren't addressing the underlining cause of your discomfort chances are you won't see the progress you really want. DMR gave me the tools and encouragement I needed to do just that
GarrickReceived PT from Sarah Pipher earlier this year after a L5S1 disc issue. I had an excellent experience at DMR and would highly recommend it. About 8 months later I’m 100% and jogging again. Highly recommended.
ChristopherWalked in expecting to have surgery. Walked out not needing it. Leonard and his team have a revolutionary approach to rehab wellness, unlike anything I’ve experienced in ten years of PT. Highly recommend.
RyanI was injured due to work and I needed some help to get back on the road to recovery. I really couldn't find the right type of service to do that, until I was referred to DMR. Oh my, what an amazing team they have! Not for a second do I regret being there. I highly recommend it. Thank you, Cameron, and everyone for setting fine examples for the community. <3
TekaMy daughter was referred after a traumatic brain injury in April. They have been making amazing progress with her balance and ability to function. Very accommodating and knowledgeable with brain issues. Therapist work together and are communicate well will patients. Very impressive facility
CatherineI have been coming to DMR for a few months and I have seen a lot of improvement that I honestly didn’t think I would ever see. I struggle with lower back/ hip pain. I have gone to other physical therapy offices and they never worked, just got worse. DMR has been a wonderful place for me, they work with my schedule, are very helpful and over all amazing people!
RhyanI really enjoy coming here for physical therapy! They're nice and patient and really explain the cycle of pain and how we can work/move to get our bodies to be more efficient in dealing with it, as well as alleviating it. They don't just focus on core exercises, they focus on the whole causation of your pain. I would recommend them to anyone that's struggled with physical therapy in the past. :)
PaulBen, my PT, has been a big help with my Sciatica. He taught me new exercises that really work! Clarissa & Megan, my OT's, have helped me with my hands, arms, and elbows. I have so many exercises from them, which I do faithfully.
TrudiI absolutely loved going to DMR. They have a different approach to therapy which aided in my recovery and will continue will help me in the future as well. They all are super friendly and Ben was great to work with. I feel we forged a great friendship. Highly recommend!
JanetLeonard and Justin (and the rest of the team) were phenomenal. This physical therapy journey was different than any of my others, but it was so incredibly helpful and taught me to connect with my body more to allow it to move in the ways it needs to. It is an ongoing process of changing and adapting from previous learned physical movements/behaviors and mental/emotional responses to pain, but one that I feel very supported in and well equipped to continue. I have now been experiencing longer stretches of pain free days than I have in years and when my body does experience pain or twinges, my ability to respond to them is improving daily. Thank you to this amazing team!
KelseyI have been working with Sarah here for my lower back pain for about 5 months. I have been able to continue my care virtually as I travel which has been an amazing capability. Sarah listens, is very clear on instructions, follows up outside of our sessions and is constantly adjusting our plan as needed to ensure we are working on effective exercises that actually work and not just boiler plate PT movements. This office is incredibly knowledgeable, open to questioning the norms of how PT is currently done, evaluating new research and using that to design their programs and treatment. I would recommend this office above any else to any friend or family member in need of care!
BeckyI valued being treated as a person with a medical issue rather than a medical issue with a person attached to it. Leonard and Brant in particular were great listeners and so calm in their explanations. I appreciated new ways of looking at how my mind and body interact. Even walking in the door to Lukas's cheery greeting-by-name made the entire experience great. I got the results I was hoping for as well. Thanks, DMR for the part you played in getting me back to my usual self!
MichelleSo much different than the usual physical therapy! They were kind, caring, took the time to work with you and knowledgeable. Totally different experience. You find out the connection between your mind and body are so connected and depend on each other that small changes have a huge impact on the other! Great place and I will never go back to anyone else.
ThomasLeonard is the best. This is not traditional PT. Mind and body. Highly recommended.
TedI'm in my 40s, and have had chronic back pain for 20 years. I have been to numerous physical therapists over the years, and none of them had an approach like Leonard at DMR Move and Recover. In the last couple of years, the chronic pain became even more aggravated, while on chemotherapy. I was skeptical about the possibility of much improvement. I had many daily stretches and routines, used ice daily, and worked hard to keep the pain under control. Nothing seem to help much….Amazingly, after a number of months of using Leonard's approach which takes both the mind and body very seriously, my daily pain levels have decreased DRAMATICALLY….I am able to lift and be active in ways that I have not been able to for many years. These improvements have been stable for a number of months now, and I have been able to go off of one of my primary pain drugs, with no increase in pain.
ToddThe DMR team has been a life saver. To feel pain is painful, to live pain is to know pain. After four rounds of physical therapy with no positive results, I was over the idea of one more round of physical therapy. My physician assured me this was different and he was confident this team could help me. I had nothing else to lose as I had given up all activities that brought me joy. I was no longer physically active, my creativity, drive, passion and zeal for life were gone. After the first visit, I was a believer. Three visits later I am nearly pain free and back to loving life. I am a firm believer that repairing and rebuilding take time, but being open to new ideas is key. I am confident with continued therapy, I will re-gain my life and enjoy all it has to offer.
KimI was super sceptical going into this. But it has helped me so much. I have had really bad back pain since October 2018 and this is the first PT that actually worked long term to help with any of the pain. You think that pain is just pain but there are a lot of factors that cause it and they go over with you and slowly add more complex task onto you routine. They even helped my playing, I am a violinist. They are all super friendly and very nice to work with and easy to communicate with. I am going to continue to work with the team as needed. I highly recommend you try if anything else hasn't worked for you.
AubryI started seeing the team at DMR Move and Recover for help with migraine headaches and chronic neck pain after a neck trauma. My hope was to at least slow the degeneration of any injury and find some pain relief. The approach DMR took was different than I have ever experienced, and it turns out I simply needed to retrain my muscles to allow my body to move without pain. Through movement study and awareness, I was quickly able to understand my pain and learn how to correct it. I’m so happy to say that persistent pain has changed to consistent pain-free days without headaches and I’m able to do many of the things I haven’t been able to do for a long time. I would highly recommend the team at DMR and I encourage you to be open to their approach, fully expecting the results you desire.
MichelleI have been working with DMR over the past year for back pain and neuropathy The consultations and treatment programs have very helpful for me. I have sent friends who have also had similar success. I have nothing but praise for their office.
JohnI was recommended to DMR by my physiatrist, Dr. Mike Distler, as a way to understand how my body processes pain. Having a degenerative arthritic condition, at times pain is just part of my life. DMR taught me how to calm my nervous system, strategies on how to recognize an impending flare-up, and gave me options of how to navigate daily life as optimally as I can. DMR took the fear out of my condition and gave me not only hope, but also positive and lasting improvement. I’ve gone from using a walker occasionally, along with semi-regular pain meds and ice to control inflammation, to no walker usage and only three instances of having to use pain meds in the past two months! It took patience and a concerted effort on my part to trust this philosophy of pain, but I’m so happy I’ve done this work for myself. Understanding pain and employing nervous system calming strategies has set me free and is giving me back my active life style. There is a definite social and psychological component to pain that all people could benefit from understanding. I cannot recommend DMR to enough people
Mary JoI went to DMR with shoulder pain whose source could not be explained or successfully treated by anyone else in the medical community. I have gone from not being able to swim to building my yardage back up to 1.5 miles 3x/week, thanks to the work of Leonard at DMR. His knowledge and understanding of the way pain works in our bodies is amazing, and he can explain it in a way that is understandable to the commoner. Many thanks!
SuannAs an aging competitive athlete, I am used to dealing with aches and pains. When things reached the point where I could no longer compete I went the path of sports medicine and PT. My experience was frustrating and it seemed that the actual PT would simply prescribe a plan a then leave it to others to implement. Thankfully, a fellow competitor referred me to Leonard. The first day, he identified the root cause of my pain. Within weeks I had relief from an issue that other professionals were suggesting surgery as the best option. Leonard has a unique understanding how to manage and relieve pain that is very effective and non invasive. If you are injured and not making progress I highly recommend getting some time with Leonard!!
TomI came into DMR very hesitant. I was referred to them by a pain specialist, and when I was told that I had to return to physical therapy, I was genuinely concerned. Every physical therapy experience I had in the past was painful, left me sore and unable to be "normal" after my sessions. I am happy to say that this is not the case with DMR and Leonard. DMR takes a different approach to physical therapy, one that does not leave physical pain after the session. Leonard gave me techniques to use in order to calm my flare ups, and although they are not looked at as "traditional" techniques, they worked. Everything that I had tried in a traditional physical therapy setting, did not work (or increased my pain)! But, I can honestly say that the things that I have learned in PT at DMR have helped me. Thanks to the knowledge and help from Leonard, I can honestly say that I am back on track to a pain free life! Thank you DMR.
MadisonCopyright © 2023 Dynamic Movement and Recovery
I’m so grateful for the services that DMR has provided to me. In the midst of this global crisis, I was very worried that I would not be able to access the health care services that I need. DMR’s Telehealth has helped me to maintain control of my health and continue my physical recovery without risking my or anyone else’s health. Thank you so much Leonard and everyone at DMR!
Sarah