Your Health

The risk of chronic pain

Recent research shows that people at risk of developing chronic pain are affected by how they think and feel, and how active they are. Some of the signs of being at risk for developing long-term pain include:

• Believing you have a serious injury or damage. Being unable to accept reassurance.
• Believing that hurt means harm, and that you will become disabled.
• Avoiding movement or activity, in fear of doing damage.
  
• Continued rest and inactivity instead of getting on with life.
• Waiting for someone to fix it, rather than helping yourself to recover.
  
• Becoming withdrawn and depressed.

These warning signs may develop gradually, which is why it's important to be proactive and prevent the development of chronic pain. Part of this prevention plan is getting back to work and feeling productive as soon as possible. Statistics show that if you don't return to work after one month, there is a 10 per cent risk you will still be off work in a year's time.

Back to "Back problems can be solved by staying active"

	About Wave Wave is published six times a year by the Winnipeg Health Region in cooperation with the Winnipeg Free Press. It is available at newsstands, hospitals and clinics throughout Winnipeg, as well as McNally Robinson Books. Read the Summer 2010 issue of Wave