The chronic pain experience is the
result of interaction of many factions including biological Social, psychosocial,
environmental and familial. Presence of
chronic pain can impact the family System
with significant negative consequences .
The family may also be responsible in
part for maintaining and perpetuating pain problems!
A 65 year old Mrs Lakshmi underwent bilateral knee replacement surgery
for osteo arthritis. She could not avail
the rehabilitation facilities in the same hospital, but followed all exercises
illustrated in her discharge summery at home. At the end of one month after
surgery, still she used the high chair, piled up mattresses for sleeping and
was unable to walk without walker or holding on to someone. Fear of imbalance
and probable pain made her confined to bed. The family sensed some problem and seeked
help from our clinic .With the help of an
expert, she could walk without support within a week. A couple of weeks later she could walk on her own without fear
and by the end of one month, could climb the steps, get in to the car and lead
a normal life. If the patient was not brought out of psychological aspect of pain
(fear of falling and pain) she could have suffered from chronic pain and
disability even after corrective
surgery. More the patients avoid activity with the sympathy of undergoing major
surgery, specially with the family members supporting them unknowingly, can harm
the recovery process.
WHAT ARE PSYCHO SOMATIC FAMILIES?
Existence of
a particular behavior patterns in the family such as over protection, ego
boundaries between the family members, rigid rules and regulations etc predispose
chronic pain/dis ability patterns in the afflicted member. For instance a
mother may feel neglected by her grown children. Focusing on somatic pain can
allow her to ask for nurturance and
caring that she is unable to ask for otherwise.
.
LET US CONSIDER PAIN IN CHILDREN
A 15 years
old Ramesh complains of migraine headaches which compel him missing the school
.The cause could be due to his adolescent age and less supportive parenting during family interactions .
On the other hand , a 6 years old Krishna
bunks classes due to recurrent abdominal pain . All the tests for the course
turned out to be negative. Here, we may be dealing with a child who gets
frequent attention to his symptoms from the
family and they even grant him permission
for not attending the school.
SOCIO ECONOMIC FACTORS
Housing, motivation and adjustment at
workplace ,income, legal issues, liabilities, litigation or compensation can reflect
as disability and absenteeism from work.
Diversion, self analysis by counseling can solve this problem.
Injury or disease produces pain where by the patient with draws from
work and social activities. This act instead of reducing pain, could aggravate
it.
THE WHOLISTIC APPROACH FOR PAIN MANAGEMENT
Aim of such management to include physical,
psychosocial, emotional and familial
aspects of pain.
Dr.Sudha Prasad Can be Contacted on: 9448848973,
Jaya Pain Clinic & Diagnostic Center, Blog:http://jayapainclinicanddiagnostics.blogspot.in/
Address: 1063, 11th Main Rd, Stage 2, Nagapura, Bangalore, KA 560086
