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Matt is a 35-year-old Marine Corps Veteran who has been struggling for the past several years with depression, unexplained back pain and headaches, as well as PTSD.  He is married and has two young children at home.  During his tour of duty, he suffered an injury but recovered physically from that particular injury. Unfortunately, several fellow soldiers were killed in the same event. On some nights, when his headaches and back pain keep him from sleeping, he thinks about the past.  Occasionally, he still has nightmares.

Matt has a good deal of social support including his wife, his parents, two sisters, and a few good friends.  His primary care clinician referred him to a therapist to address his traumatic experiences and also recommended that he speak with a chaplain. He has been willing to talk with his therapist about his struggles and has worked on telling his story.  While this has helped his PTSD, it did not resolve all of his symptoms.  His therapist suggested Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) for his nightmares, which has been beneficial.  In general, his mood-related symptoms have improved over the past few months, and he is feeling less depressed.

Matt’s focus now is his pain—headaches and back pain.  His headaches have waxed and waned over the last 5 years, but they have become increasingly persistent in the last year.  He has tried a number of different treatments for his headaches and back pain, including chiropractic care and medications.  He finds that he gets minimal relief from these treatments and does not feel that his pain is well controlled. 

Matt experiences increasing frustration and irritability when he gets headaches and his back pain flares.  Matt can sometimes be short-tempered with his family when he gets home from work.  He feels guilty about his behavior, as he wants to be a good father to his children.  During the past year he has become more isolated from his friends.  On occasion, Matt has had to cancel plans and miss work due to pain flares.  He is having difficulty coping with his pain and wants to learn more about non-pharmacological approaches to pain management. 

Matt’s Personal Health Inventory (PHI) indicated that he had no strategies other than medication to manage his pain.  Discussing this with his care team, Matt realized that he needed to make his health more of a priority and learn self-management tools.

On his PHI, Matt rates himself as a 3 out of 5 for his overall physical well-being, a 2 for overall mental well-being and 3 for overall emotional well-being.  When asked what matters most to him and why he wants to be healthy, Matt responds:

“My family. I want to be able to play with my children, spend time with my wife, and enjoy hunting and fishing again.”

For the eight areas of self-care, Matt rates himself on where he is and where he would like to be.  He decides to first focus on the area of Power of the Mind by learning how to manage his pain using breathing exercises, imagery or other non-drug approaches.

For more information, refer to Matt’s PHI.

Self-Management of Pain Matters

Pain—especially chronic pain—is a complex problem.  Most interventions for chronic pain aim to reduce or eliminate pain;  however, complete and lasting elimination of chronic pain is rarely achieved.[1]  Despite this fact, both patients with pain and their clinicians often approach treating this condition by looking for a medical cure without emphasizing the need for self-management on the part of the patient.[2]

Comprehensive treatments for chronic pain need to include not only biomedical approaches, but also psycho-social-spiritual approaches.  Helping patients become more aware of potential tools that can assist them in the self-management of their pain condition is important for improving the quality of their lives, decreasing reliance on medical care, and strengthening a sense of empowerment around their health.  The limited efficacy of conventional medicine for treating these conditions means that patient and family education, instruction in disease self-management, lifestyle modification, and emotional and social support have become increasingly important elements of chronic disease management.[3-6]

Chronic pain is difficult to address, and it is all too easy to adopt the mindset of wanting to turn it off.  Unfortunately, medications and other interventions are not always successful in this regard.  Teaching techniques for patients to work with the pain themselves is central to Whole Health care for people with chronic pain.

Chronic Pain and Veterans

According to Analysis of National Health Survey from the CDC and analyzed by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (2010-2014), 65.5%  of U.S. military veterans say they are in pain (compared to nonveteran 56.4%), and 9.1 percent say their pain is severe (compared to 6.3 of nonveterans).  Based on analyzing data from over 67,000 adults, Veterans were more likely to have a range of painful conditions including back pain and joint pain but less likely to have jaw pain or migraines. Sex-related difference was noted with male veterans more likely to report severe pain than male nonveterans (4.7%), with no difference found between the two female groups. For veterans, aged 50-59, there was a greater likelihood to have severe pain.[191]  Among the categories of conditions leading to disability discharges from the military, musculoskeletal is the most common.[192]

Data collected from medical encounter records suggest that the incidence of chronic pain among US service members is significantly increasing.[193]  Although the increase may be related to changes in demographics, reporting practices and willingness to seek pain care, the increase is likely partially explained by an increase in combat deployments.  During service they are at risk for combat-related physical injuries and exposure to environmental and mental stressors.[194]   Among service members returning from combat deployments, up to 44% report chronic pain.[195]  Service members are also at heightened risk for mood disorders, trauma-related disorders due to combat and military sexual trauma, suicidality, and alcohol, tobacco, or drug use disorder.[196-200]

Women represent the fastest growing segment of utilizers in the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) health care system and over 70% of women Veterans report chronic pain.[201,343-345]  Compared to their male peers, women Veterans use a greater number of out-patient visits for chronic pain but are more likely to perceive their pain condition to be poorly understood by providers.[202,203]

There are also significant racial disparities in pain, and Black individuals experience more severe pain and pain- related disability than non-Hispanic white individuals.[204-207]  Black individuals are more likely to report lower levels of trust in their clinicians.[208,209]  Consequently, Black individuals are less likely to have their pain assessed or receive treatment for their pain and have poorer outcomes following treatment.[210,211]  Rurality further decreased the likelihood of Black Americans visiting a pain clinic.[212]  Black and Hispanic Americans were more likely to present to emergency/urgent care for chronic pain.[213,214]

Importantly, compared with nonveterans, veterans with chronic pain tend to experience more complex pain conditions with higher rates of psychiatric and social problems that include depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), work disabilities, and substance use disorders (SUDs).  Untreated comorbidity can lead to worse outcomes.  For example, Veterans with chronic pain are at high risk for comorbid psychiatric conditions such as depression.[7-10] Moderate to severe depression in U.S. veterans was estimated at 9.6% from 2005 to 2016 while rates of mild or subthreshold depression are likely substantially higher.[215,216]  Creating a possible vicious cycle, higher levels of depressive symptoms may also predict higher pain severity.[11]  There is also a bi-directional risk for pain and PTSD in veterans.  Individuals with a history of combat PTSD estimated to occur in 10-17% of soldiers experienced the highest odds of developing chronic widespread pain.[217,218]  PTSD symptomology has a large effect for many negative health outcomes leading to increased health care costs.[219,220]  These individuals utilized more health care services, although not mental health services, than those with pain or PTSD symptoms alone.[12]  

Supporting Clinicians Treating Chronic Pain

Burnout for clinicians treating individuals with chronic pain is a legitimate concern. (For more information on burnout, refer to “Burnout and Resilience: Frequently Asked Questions.”)  In a 2021 survey of 1,300 anesthesiologists, researchers found that those focused on pain management had a higher rate of burnout (nearly 44%) than their colleagues in other subspecialties.[221]  Matthias and colleagues conducted in-depth interviews of primary care practitioners at a VA Medical Center.[14]  The authors found that 3 broad themes emerged for clinicians:

1. The importance of the patient-clinician relationship was emphasized as essential for good pain care.
2. Common difficulties when treating chronic pain include feeling pressured to treat with opioids, as well as worries about secondary gain and diversion.
3. Taking care of patients with chronic pain took an emotional toll on clinicians, who often reported feeling frustrated, ungratified and guilty.

The authors concluded that clinicians need support, both instrumental and emotional, around the care of individuals with chronic pain.  In addition, they concluded that enhancing patient-centered communication and empathy, as well as focusing on shared decision-making, hold promise for alleviating the strain on clinicians.

Part of the importance of promoting self-management for pain is not only that it can empower patients to proactively address their pain, but also shifts how patients and clinicians relate to one another.  It has the potential to make the management of chronic pain much less burdensome to clinicians.

Effective Communication about Chronic Pain

One of the key elements of self-management of a chronic pain condition is forming a successful patient-clinician relationship.[14]  Research has found that feeling believed and having pain acknowledged by clinicians was very important to pain patients and promoted more effective coping behaviors.[15]  Active listening, validation, and managing expectations can have a remarkable impact on helping patients stop trying to find a cure when this is not possible, stop struggling to be understood, and to feel assured that their conditions do not have dire consequences.[16]  Effective communication strengthens a working alliance between clinicians and patients which  helps foster an increase in patients’ motivation to acquire the skills and confidence to manage their pain conditions.

Refer to “Communicating about Chronic Pain: Instructions for Clinicians” for information on how clinicians can communicate more effectively with pain patients.

Educating Patients About Self-Management

A chronic pain condition requires day-to-day management by the patient.  Clinicians are in a powerful position to encourage the use of self-management techniques.  They can educate patients and refer them to a variety of self-management tools.  A clinician’s authority can do much to increase willingness to give these tools a try.  Working collaboratively with patients on goals can increase compliance.[17,222]  A clear agreed upon treatment plan with concrete tasks to accomplish between appointments will assist veterans with pain in moving forward in adopting a self-management mindset.  Setting functional goals can encourage movement toward improving quality of life despite the pain.

Clinicians Can Promote Self-Management

• Provide chronic pain patients with a rationale for adopting a self-management approach to their pain. Highlight the connection of the mind and body.  This can validate patients’ pain experience and open them up to the possibility that they can take action to decrease the pain.
• Redefine the problem. Emphasize that pain is a complex experience and their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors can influence their perception of pain.
• Help patients understand that their chronic pain may be a lifelong condition with the goal being pain management, not necessarily pain elimination. With management as the focus, clinicians can discuss what approaches are available from a medical management perspective and how effective they are.  Medical management is not more important than teaching the patient what they can do for self-management.
• Educate the patients on the limitations of pain medications and manage patients’ expectations around their use. [18] S. military veterans have been heavily impacted by the opioid overdose crisis, with drug overdose mortality rates increasing by 53% from 2010–2019.[223]  Also, research has demonstrated that using opioids for over a year does not lessen pain and may actually decrease overall functioning.  As noted earlier, US veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan with pain and mental health diagnoses, especially PTSD, had an increased risk of receiving opioids for pain, engage in high-risk opioid use, and have adverse clinical outcomes.[13]  In the well-known Danish Health and Morbidity survey of over 16,000 individuals, opioid usage was associated with moderate, severe, or very severe pain, as well as poor self-rated health, higher rates of unemployment, higher use of health care system resources, and poorer quality of life.[19]

Comorbidities of Chronic Pain

Chronic pain has been shown to be associated with stress, negative affect, anxiety, and depression.[20-24]  As noted above, depression is the most common psychological comorbidity, and studies typically report prevalence rates of depression between 30% and 60% in patients with chronic pain.  About 35% of those with chronic pain and depression meet criteria for Major Depressive Disorder.  

4.9% of the US adult population or approximately 1 in 20 US adults, experience co-occurrence of chronic pain and anxiety/depression symptoms.

Data from the 2019 National Health Interview Survey found that nearly 1 in 20 US adults are living with co-occurring chronic pain and clinically significant anxiety and/or depression.  Those experiencing co-occurring symptoms are at an elevated risk of functional limitations at work, activities of daily living, and social participation. This points to the need for whole health approaches that target improving functional outcomes.[224]

Grief and loss are major themes to emerge in patients with chronic pain and can contribute to depression.  Some typical losses include changes in occupational and social activities, physical functioning, financial security, interpersonal relationships, sense of self-worth, as well as a losing hope about the future.[25,26]  In one study, the number of roles and personal attributes lost as a result of the pain condition predicted depression scores.[27]  Refer to “Coping with Grief,” “Screening for Complicated Grief,” “Grief Reactions, Duration, and Tasks of Mourning” and “Health Care Professional as Griever: The Importance of Self-Care” for more information on how grief can influence health.

Anger and irritability are also frequently associated with chronic pain, and it is suggested that there might be a connection between pain sensitivity and suppression of anger, with inhibition of anger possibly a factor in increased perceived pain.[28,29]

Individuals with pain who are struggling with difficulties of loss, depression, and anger may benefit from psychotherapy, working with psychological pain specialists and/or group treatment.  Individuals who perseverate on what they used to be able to do may need help in moving from loss to acceptance.  Certainly, antidepressants might prove helpful to many patients in pain. 

Self-Efficacy

Self-efficacy is a concept that generally refers to an individual’s belief that he or she can perform a certain behavior and achieve a desired outcome.  From a health standpoint, there are certain thoughts that determine whether or not behavior change will even be initiated, if negative behavior will be inhibited, how much energy will go into a particular change, and how long that effort will be sustained in the face of the pain, fatigue or other obstacles.  For example, individuals have a higher level of self-efficacy if they follow their clinicians’ instructions to start a walking program and maintain or increase it over time, even with the inevitable flare-ups of pain that can occur with a chronic pain condition.  A patient’s perceptions of self-efficacy affect self-management activities, making and maintaining behavior changes, and ultimately health outcomes.[6]  It is likely that people with chronic pain who have low self-efficacy have a poorer prognosis,[30] greater disability,[31,32,225] and more psychological distress.[33-35]

A meta-analytic review found that self-efficacy is a robust correlate of key outcomes related to chronic pain.[36]  This suggests that it is an important risk factor, as well as a protective factor, that has implications for subsequent functioning for those with pain.  Self-efficacy has been found to be helpful across health outcome measures, including increasing the likelihood that patients will achieve physical activity goals,[37] have lower levels of pain and reduced fatigue, have better physical functioning, mood, quality of life .[33,34,38,39] and these outcomes may be  independent of whether pain is reduced.[226]  In a U.S. veteran population, a systematic review with meta-analysis showed that those veterans with PTSD and pain had lower self-efficacy, as well as higher pain catastrophizing than other veterans.   Both pain catastrophizing and decreased self-efficacy could be targeted for intervention.[227]

Self-efficacy levels can be enhanced and the following suggestions may be useful to the clinician to encourage this in patients with pain:[228-230]

• Provide positive feedback for any reported attempts at self-management such as in exercise, depression, anxiety, sleep, improving the quality of life, and other factors impacted by pain. Your positive comments can be a powerful reinforcement.
• Recognize that unhelpful beliefs about pain, e.g., pain catastrophizing, may be impacting the veteran’s ability to cope and manage his or her pain. Refer to “Working with Pain-related Thoughts.”
• Involve significant others, such as a spouse or family members to encourage self-management behaviors outside of the clinician’s office.
• Discuss realistic and attainable goals, with action plans. Suggest small changes in the desired direction. Refer to “Goal Setting for Pain Rehabilitation.”
• Discuss self-management of flare-ups in advance so that the patient does not give up when these inevitably occur. Refer to “A Pain Flare Management Plan.”
• Create/utilize multiple opportunities for education, engagement, and encouragement for the individual in pain such as the following:
  • Pain management, Acceptance and Commitment (ACT), CBT groups for pain
  • Group programs that encourage people to work the body, including exercise, tai chi, walking meditations, or other offerings specific to your setting
  • Interdisciplinary pain programs
  • Support groups that encourage self-efficacy
  • Shared medical appointments that include educational and support elements
  • Pain psychology or other specialists who work with pain
  • Printed materials that advocate self-management

When working with management of chronic pain, do all you can to enhance self-efficacy.  It is similar to trying to bring about behavior change in other areas, such as diet, substance use, or exercise.  A series of successes that give patients a sense that what they do truly makes a difference will do much to help them effectively manage chronic pain by changing their thoughts, behaviors, and attitudes.

Fear-Avoidance Behaviors and Self-Management

The Fear-Avoidance model provides a framework for understanding how complex psychological processes, including negative appraisals and fear (e.g., the worry that pain will be worse with activity) influence how people express and respond to their pain.[40]  In the acute phase, initially avoiding painful stimuli (such as activity) is useful and natural, but trying to get away from the pain might be a maladaptive response if the pain is chronic.

Fear and avoidance behaviors (FAB) appear to be associated with disability and impaired physical performance in chronic pain.  Several  reviews indicated a robust association between pain-related fear and disability[41] and found fear avoidance beliefs to be a prognostic factor for poor outcome in back pain.[42,231]  Fear of pain and avoidance behaviors are also tied to more sick leave used in acute injury situations,[43-45] predicted more severity and disability with headache,[46] anxiety and depression, pain and disability following surgery as well as linked to the risk of future occurrence of back pain in a healthy population.[47,232,233]

 Recent systematic reviews and meta-analyses note some promising evidence that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can treat fear avoidance beliefs in individuals with chronic back pain as well as improve pain and self-efficacy.[234,235]  There is also low quality evidence that the use of exercise, Pilates, and strength training programs might assist those with FAB and low back pain.[236]

Interestingly, it may not only be patients with pain who have fear-avoidance beliefs.  A systematic review found that there is strong evidence that health care providers’ beliefs about back pain are associated with the beliefs of their patients.[48]  Further,  they found moderate evidence that health practitioners with elevated fear avoidance beliefs are more likely to advise patients to limit work and physical activity, less likely to adhere to treatment guidelines, and have more sick leave prescriptions.

In summary, FABs influence chronic pain treatments and outcomes. When their fear of pain is high, individuals with chronic pain may benefit from the following:

• Discuss the difference between “hurt” versus “harm.” Just because they are hurting (experiencing an unpleasant sensation) does not mean the body is being harmed or damaged as a result of activity.
• Encourage participation in exercise such as individualized treatment with a physical therapist, graded exercise or Pilates and titrate exercise up gradually to build their confidence.
• Provide graded exercise. Individualize treatment with a physical therapist, and titrate exercise up gradually to build their confidence.
• Refer to a pain psychologist or other specialist in pain management to utilize cognitive behavioral interventions to address FABs.[40]
• Prescribe cognitive behavioral therapy, especially to programs/groups that are directly targeting pain.

Chronic Pain and Effective Goal Setting

Goal setting is a fundamental element of a successful individualized pain rehabilitation plan.[49,50]  Schulman-Green and colleagues pointed out that using a method to facilitate goal-setting can be useful in our current medical culture.[50]  A specific method can 1) serve as a rapport builder, 2) give structure to goal setting conversations, 3) make goal setting a fixture within the medical encounter as part of routine paperwork, and 4) improve the quality of health care, because information can be shared with other clinicians, thereby reducing fragmentation in care.  They note the importance of developing a goal setting instrument, training clinicians in its use, and encouraging patient participation. Collaboratively setting goals with patients’ input leads to higher compliance levels than provider-mandated goals.[17]  

When addressing a chronic pain condition, goal setting helps create a successful individualized pain rehabilitation plan,[49,50] and improves provider-patient communication.[51]  Successful goal setting builds confidence in coping with pain.  Having the patient identify what they want to achieve in their life, what changes are important to them and coming up with goals agreed upon between the patient and the clinician can enhance the patient’s motivation.[237,238]  Patient-generated goals may strengthen treatment engagement, adherence and efficacy  by facilitating a focus on what patients consider most relevant.[239,240]

McCracken states that the best management strategies for chronic pain involve setting goals around decreasing the impact of pain; the focus should be on the patient’s emotional, physical, and social role functioning, not on the rating of pain severity.[16]  Given that pain levels may or may not change, setting goals to increase level of functioning is a better marker of patients’ level of progress with their pain rehabilitation plans.

 

Help patients with chronic pain avoid getting bogged down in their descriptions of their pain or in how pain limits their activity.  Use goal setting to focus on what they can do and emphasize their accomplishments as the true indicator of how they are doing.

Active coping strategies (versus passive coping approaches) are useful for managing chronic pain.  They are psychological or behavioral responses that are geared to alter the source of stress (pain) or how one thinks about it.  Active coping strategies are associated with better outcomes and might include regular exercise, maintaining daily activities, ignoring pain sensations (when appropriate), developing adaptive thinking (i.e., decreasing catastrophizing, fear-avoidance beliefs and increasing pain self-efficacy beliefs), or practicing relaxation exercises and mindfulness meditation.[39,52]  Passive coping strategies, which do not involve taking action in response to the pain, are associated with poorer outcomes.  Examples include venting emotions, using medication, increasing clinician visits (seeking someone else who can do something to make the pain go away), and avoiding activity.[39,53-55]

Below is a list of six common areas patients might choose to incorporate into their self-management plans as they set their goals:

1. Exercise (strengthening, stretching, aerobics)

• Relaxation/meditation/quieting response
• Social support/social activity
• Meaningful life activities (work, volunteer, responsibilities to family/church, etc.)
• Pleasurable activities (hobbies, interests, diversions, distractions, social)
• Attitude/mood/thinking

The SMART goal-setting acronym is recommended to help patients set effective goals.  Patients may be more successful if they set goals that are specific, measurable, and realistic outcomes that can be achieved in a short period of time, hold meaning and importance for the Veteran, and are set by the Veteran in conjunction with the clinician and direct the plan of care.

The SMART acronym stands for:

S = Specific          M = Measurable          A = Action-Oriented          R = Realistic          T = Timed

Refer to “Goal Setting for Pain Rehabilitation,” for more information on how to incorporate the SMART goal-setting tool with your pain patients.

Exercise for the Self-Management of Pain

Activity Pacing for Pain Management

Activity pacing (AP) is a strategy found as a component of cognitive-behavioral and interdisciplinary pain management programs.  AP focuses on modulating an individual’s level of activity rate as needed, through behaviors such as going slower, taking breaks, maintaining a steady pace and breaking tasks into manageable pieces.

Activity pacing has been found to be associated with decreases in distress and pain severity, lower levels of depression and anxiety and better psychological functioning.  Pacing with the stated intent to increase activity was associated with more positive affect and better daily functioning whereas no such associations were found for pacing with the intent to avoid pain.[247]  Pacing has been found to be associated with less disability in fibromyalgia.[62,63]  AP done to reduce the impact of pain, rather than to reduce pain level, is more likely to be successful.[64]

The Cognitive-Behavioral Perspective on Chronic Pain

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is at present the most widely used psychotherapeutic treatment for adults with chronic pain and is considered the gold-standard psychosocial intervention for chronic pain.[248-250]  CBT-based treatments for chronic pain and secondary depression, anxiety and insomnia are typically short-term treatments that promote personal control and self-management and active coping strategies. It includes the  use of structured techniques involving multiple methods to modify cognition and behavior.  CBT for chronic pain focuses on changing one’s response to and relationship with pain through exploring thoughts, beliefs, emotions, physiological responses and behaviors so that pain has a less negative impact on functioning and quality of life.[251,252] 

Skill development within CBT includes 1) increasing knowledge about pain, 2) addressing beliefs that may interfere with engagement in activities, 3) improving patients’ skills and change in their behavior and 4) improving physical and social activity. Three components are also typically emphasized within CBT which are cognitive restructuring for unhelpful thoughts, paced behavioral activation to increase movement and engagement, and relaxation training to improve sympathetic nervous system responses.

Systematic reviews and meta-analyses provide strong evidence for the efficacy of CBT protocols for patients suffering from chronic pain conditions, including the following as noted in a review by Waters and colleagues:[65] arthritis pain,[66-69] cancer pain,[70-73] headaches,[74-76] temporomandibular pain,[77] persistent low back pain,[78-80] sickle cell disease pain,[81] and mixed chronic pain syndromes.[82]  There is also strong evidence of the positive benefit of CBT on chronic neck pain,   fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, and orofacial pain.[253,254]

In 2012, the VA developed a cognitive behavioral therapy for chronic pain (CBT-CP) protocol. Murphy, Cordova and Dedert (2022) evaluated 1,331 Veterans from 2012-2018 who underwent CBT-CP.  Their research found that Veterans who underwent CBT-CP experienced significant improvements in patient outcomes across multiple domains including reductions in pain catastrophizing, pain intensity, pain interference, depression, and improvements in physical quality of life.Several meta-analyses examining the benefits of CBT have shown that it yields moderate to large effects for cognitive coping responses and small to moderate effects for pain outcomes relative to controls.[83,84] Morley et al. conducted a meta-analysis of the efficacy of CBT for a wide range of persistent pain conditions, including arthritis pain, low back pain, and mixed pain syndromes.[82] He used data from 25 controlled studies and found that cognitive-behavioral treatment, compared to physical therapy, occupational therapy or educational therapy, had significant benefits for pain experience, pain behavior, and coping and appraisals.  There are several systematic reviews of CBT for chronic pain concluding that these approaches can produce significant benefits, such as reduced pain and improved daily functioning.[82,85-88]

Researchers have asserted that CBT may be efficacious through therapeutic mechanisms that involve fostering a sense of control over pain, improving self-efficacy and lowering fear avoidance,  changing perspectives by gaining autonomy, understanding pain and oneself, accepting pain and encouraging the developing and strengthening of self-management skills.[89,90,255,256]  Results from longitudinal designs also suggest that treatment may be efficacious through altering maladaptive pain-related appraisals such as pain helplessness,[91] pain catastrophizing,[92-96] perceived pain control,[92,93,95] and other pain-related beliefs.[92,97,257] 

Researchers have examined the effect that CBT has had on areas of the brain implicated in the experience and anticipation of pain.   Many brain regions responsible for cognition and emotion were involved in the mechanism of CBT, including the frontal cortex, parietal cortex, occipital cortex, somatosensory cortex, basal ganglia, amygdala, cerebellum, insula and cingulate gyrus.[258]  One study that conducted an 11-week CBT intervention for coping with chronic pain found the intervention resulted in increased cerebral gray matter volume or density in prefrontal and somatosensory brain regions, as well as increased dorsolateral prefrontal volume associated with reduced pain catastrophizing.  Increased cerebral gray matter volume in the prefrontal and posterior parietal cortices is suggestive of greater top-down control over pain and cognitive reappraisal of pain and changes in somatosensory cortices reflects alterations in the perception of noxious signals.[98]  A 2022 review of neuroimaging studies on CBT for pain management substantiated that after CBT treatment the brain showed stronger top-down pain control, cognitive reassessment, and altered perception of stimulus signals (chronic pain and repeated acute pain).[259]

A systematic review and meta-analysis explored the benefit of internet-based and mobile-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (IM-CBT).  Looking at conditions such as chronic pain and comorbid psychiatric symptoms, findings include improvements in physical distress in chronic pain (physical symptoms, functional impairment, self-rated ill health, objective physiological dysfunction) and psychiatric symptoms (depressive, anxiety, PTSD symptoms, general psychological distress) from baseline to post-intervention and follow-ups.  Preliminary evidence suggests that behavioral modification and problem-solving might be the components reducing psychiatric symptoms in IM-CBT, whereas cognitive restructuring, psychoeducation, and mindfulness elements might be related to reduced physical distress.[260] A Brief CBT-CP Group via VA Video Connect was also found to be an effective and accessible treatment for older adults with chronic noncancer pain who are being managed in the primary care setting with results demonstrating significant improvements in disability rating, physical health, quality of life, generalized anxiety, and pain outcomes from pre- to post-treatment.[261] 

Thinking and chronic pain

The role of cognition is an important area of self-management in chronic pain.[99]  Pain catastrophizing, a common thinking pattern for most patients with chronic pain, has been found to be one of the most important psychological factors contributing to perceived pain intensity and emotional distress and has been shown to be associated with greater impact of pain symptoms on functioning.[56,100,262]  People who catastrophize about their pain tend to have exaggerated worry, overestimate the likelihood of unpleasant outcomes, and think more helpless and distress-amplifying thoughts in response to pain.[101]  

Several studies have shown that patients with high levels of catastrophizing, a negative and pessimistic orientation toward pain, are at increased risk for prescription opioid misuse.[102-105,263]  Patients who are high in catastrophizing have been found to ruminate about pain, experience feelings of helplessness when in pain, and magnify the threat value of pain, even after controlling for variables such as substance use disorders, depression and anxiety symptoms and levels of pain severity.[56,105-108,264]

Pain catastrophizing is also a strong predictor of disability, analgesic use, increased pain and illness behaviors, greater use of health care services, and longer hospital stays.  This is true even after controlling for depression, level of pain,[56,109] psychological distress,[110]  and increased fear reactions, and avoidance behaviors.[111,112] In a sample of U.S. Military Veterans poor perceived sleep quality and pain intensity were mediated via pain catastrophizing.[265]   US Army active-duty service members who had  high baseline pain catastrophizing score had twice the likelihood of disability than those with low scores. Service members who decreased their pain catastrophizing score from high to low during pain specialty care had lower likelihood of disability.[266]

Patients with a more positive attitude toward life appear to be able to cope better and have less distress, avoidance, and disability than those who tend to take a more negative view.[113]  One study found that participants who completed weekly positive psychology exercises designed to elicit positive emotions reported significant reductions in pain intensity and improvements in pain catastrophizing and pain control.[267]  A meta-analysis showed beneficial effects of positive psychology interventions (i.e., increasing optimism by “imaging the best possible future self”; increasing positive orientations by “writing down three good things a day”) compared to the control group on pain intensity and emotional functioning. They had fewer depressive symptoms, pain catastrophizing, negative affect; more positive affect post-intervention. At 3-month follow-up, beneficial effects were maintained for depressive symptoms and positive and negative affect, but not for pain catastrophizing.[268] Consider referring patients with chronic pain to see a specialist in CBT to work in-depth on making automatic thoughts about their pain more balanced and helpful.

Refer to “Working with Pain-Related Thoughts” for information on some simple cognitive exercises clinicians can incorporate into patient care.  

The tool of acceptance

In recent years, there has been increasing research in acceptance-based therapies, such as acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT).  The focus of these approaches is not so much on control or suppression of pain, but rather on acceptance of pain. In contrast to the focus in CBT on challenging and changing distorted thoughts around controlling pain, the focus in acceptance based treatments is on increasing individuals’ capacity to be both aware and nonjudgmental of present moment experiences, including pain and their reaction to pain.[114] The basis for these therapies is the idea that it is perhaps misguided to assume that negative internal experiences such as chronic pain will resolve.  In fact, assuming that pain will resolve may actually contribute to greater distress and interfere with healing.[115]   In addition, evidence has demonstrated that individuals who attempt to suppress or remove pain, or use distracting strategies to avoid it, tend to experience more pain and psychological distress than those who face their feelings, emotions, and thoughts related pain and accept them.[270]

The mechanism used in ACT treatment is presumed to be acceptance, in contrast to control-orientated treatments (e.g., controlling your thoughts) found in CBT.  Hayes and colleagues defined psychological acceptance within the ACT paradigm as the willingness to remain in contact with thoughts and feelings without having to follow them or change them.[116]  Acceptance of pain involves the following:[117]

• Disengagement from the struggle with pain
• Grieving the loss of a pain free life
• Adopting a realistic approach to pain
• Re-engagement in activity without trying to avoid, restrict or control pain.

Patients are encouraged to adopt a “new normal,” and in doing so, they figure out how to take value-based actions that increase a sense of meaning and purpose in life despite the pain condition.

A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials of ACT found small to medium effect sizes for pain intensity/physical function and psychological outcomes of (i.e., depression, anxiety and quality of life) at post-treatment and follow-up. The effect size of ACT on pain intensity was smaller than that on physical functionintensity.[272,273]  

Another meta-analysis showed that ACT was effective in improving pain acceptance, quality of life, pain-related functioning, pain intensity, anxiety, and depression.  They found the effects of ACT were greater in some subgroups (e.g., the trials conducted in people with a specific diagnosis causing pain and those delivering longer ACT interventions). However, they were statistically significant in most subgroups, including those of shorter ACT and online ACT interventions.[274]

An overview of systematic reviews with meta-analyses of randomized control trials found that ACT can reduce depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms, psychological inflexibility, and pain catastrophizing. It also showed improvement in mindfulness, pain acceptance, and psychological flexibility. At three-month follow-up, ACT was found to  reduce depression symptoms and psychological inflexibility, along with improved pain-related functioning and psychological flexibility. Six-month follow-up showed improved mindfulness, pain-related functioning, pain acceptance, psychological flexibility, and quality of life. At twelve-month follow-up, ACT can reduce pain catastrophizing and can improve pain-related functioning.[275] A large randomized controlled trial comparing ACT to CBT for chronic pain found that both treatments improved pain interference, depression, and pain-related anxiety in individuals with chronic pain.  This study concluded that these acceptance-based treatments appear at least equally effective as traditional CBT. ACT was rated more satisfactory by patients than CBT.[115] 

ACT-based treatments for chronic pain have also been found to produce benefit even when administered in the form of a self-help book.[128] Digitally-delivered ACT is a potentially promising method for chronic pain management but may need to be administered selectively as not everyone may benefit.[276] One systematic review and meta-analysis found on-line ACT for adults with chronic pain compared to controls yielded medium effects for pain interference and pain acceptance post treatment and small effects for depression, mindfulness, and psychological flexibility at follow-up.[277]

Refer to “Working with Pain-Related Thoughts” for more information on how to teach these approaches to patients.

Relaxation Training

There is extensive research on the benefits of relaxation therapies, which include favorable influences on the physiology of the body, stress reduction, and improved mood.  For example:

• The National Institutes of Health (NIH) states that evidence is strong for the effectiveness of relaxation therapies in reducing chronic pain in a variety of medical conditions. Research has demonstrated significant relationships between the experience of stress and both the incidence and severity of pain-related conditions.[129,130]
• Relaxation training attempts to break the pain–muscle tension–pain cycle and helps lower stress levels. A number of breathing, imagery based, and muscle tension-based exercises designed to reduce physical and emotional tension have shown benefit.

Relaxation training helps patients learn to recognize signs of tension and stress and work on reducing nervous system arousal.  Relaxation training typically has two components:

1. Repetitive focus on a word, body sensation, or muscle activity; and
2. Adoption of a passive attitude towards thoughts unrelated to one’s attentional focus.

Relaxation exercises can be a particularly useful tool for managing flare-ups and improving sleep, as chronic pain often disrupts sleep patterns.

Refer to “Recharge” and related Whole Health tools for more information on improving sleep.  Refer to “Power of the Mind” and related Whole Health tools for more information on relaxation strategies.

Breathing Techniques

Breathing techniques include rhythmic breathing, deep breathing, abdominal breathing, or diaphragmatic breathing.  Breathing techniques can be a useful introduction to self-management strategies.  They are generally safe, portable and useful in a variety of situations, including during stress or a pain flare, to manage painful procedures, and as a form of positive distraction away from a pain sensation.  Breathing techniques can easily be taught in the clinic or other setting.  Several systematic reviews and meta-analyses found that slow deep breathing was associated with significantly lower pain scores in individual with pain. [131,278-280]

Key concepts related to breathing strategies

• Shallow breathing can often accompany psychological difficulties that can result from anxiety and stress.
• Stress and anxiety are common problems for individuals with chronic pain.
• Shallow breathing can be a result of sympathetic hyperarousal, often referred to as “fight or flight response.”
• Through slower deeper breathing, a person can develop a way to minimize the physiological response to stress and activate more parasympathetic activity.
• Breathing techniques focus awareness on breathing rate, rhythm, and volume.

In summary, breathing exercises are frequently taught to patients with chronic pain to quiet arousal, create physical relaxation, manage stress, and to provide a positive distraction.  They can be used in a variety of situations and are excellent tools for people to use in self-management of their pain. When combined with relaxation, breathing practice may benefit the individual with chronic pain.[132]

For more information, refer to “Breathing” and “The Power of Breath”.

Progressive Muscle Relaxation

Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR) was developed in the late 1920s by Edmund Jacobson.  It is a systematic relaxation method that involves activating and releasing tension in various muscle groups.  PMR for chronic pain involves tensing and releasing muscles in a very subtle manner, so as not to injure the body or exacerbate pain sensations.  PMR helps people differentiate feelings of tension from relaxation, and they learn to apply these skills in stressful situations.

PMR has been extensively studied for treatment of insomnia and headaches.  A meta-analysis of 29 PMR studies on a variety of conditions found PMR to be an effective treatment for tension and migraine headaches and tinnitus.[133]  There is also evidence that PMR is an effective treatment in improving well-being in patients with inflammatory arthritis, irritable bowel syndrome [134-136], cancer related pain and tolerance of chemotherapy, inflammatory arthritis, diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain, postoperative pain, insomnia, stress, anxiety, back pain , and high blood pressure.[281-291]  PMR is a recommended practice to relax the body and mind at bedtime to fall asleep more easily and get a deeper night sleep.  It was rated an effective nonpharmacologic treatment of chronic insomnia by the 1999 review of American Academy of Sleep Medicine  and also shown to alter sleep architecture prior to overnight sleep or naps.[292,293]  Relaxation techniques, such as PMR, are noted by the National Institute of Health to be helpful in the management of pain.[294]

For more information, refer to “Progressive Muscle Relaxation”.

Progressive Relaxation

An adaptation of PMR is Progressive Relaxation (PR), which includes sequential relaxation of muscles, without muscle contraction.  For some individuals, the muscle tightening process of PMR will be difficult due to the pain, or because of a specific situation such as recent surgery, a fibromyalgia flare-up, etc.  For others, PR is preferable as it may be uncomfortable to contract muscles that are already tense.  For more information, refer to “Progressive Relaxation”.

Biofeedback

Training in biofeedback can help patients self-manage their pain through modifying their physiological activities.  Depending on the nature of their pain, a patient might be trained with the equipment to lower muscular tension, decrease heart rate, change brainwaves, alter skin temperature, etc.

In Sielski et al.’s meta-analysis of chronic back pain, the authors found significant pain intensity reduction after biofeedback training that proved to be stable at 8 month follow-up, as well as decreased disability, muscle tension, depression  and improved cognitive coping.[295]  The VA HSR& D group performed a large-scale review up to March of 2018 and there was moderate- to high-level confidence that biofeedback is likely to be effective, and may improve global health outcomes, in both migraine and tension-type headaches.[296]

More recent studies found benefit of biofeedback training to neck pain [ ], pelvic pain, temporomandibular joint dysfunction and fibromyalgia.[137-142,297,298]  Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of neurofeedback [ ] found an overall effect  of moderate improvement in chronic pain as well improvement in depression, anxiety, fatigue and sleep issues in many of the studies.

Biofeedback also has the secondary benefit of encouraging self-efficacy, creating an active learning environment, and developing important skills for use in a pain patient’s self-management toolbox.  For more information on biofeedback refer to “Power of the Mind” and related Whole Health tools and “Biofeedback.”

Imagery

Imagery can also promote self-management of the pain experience.  It is an ideal self-management tool because it is patient-centered and because, after initial training, a patient can do it outside of a clinical setting.  Many psychotherapists and psychologists can assist patients with using imagery.  Other clinicians who may incorporate imagery into their work include physical and occupational therapists, psychiatrists, nurses, and integrative medicine clinicians.

Guided imagery is a process in which a person imagines, and experiences, an internal reality in the absence of external stimuli.[143]  Mental imagery may be used to alter a person’s physiologic process, mental state or behavior.[144]  Typically the images are a mental representation of something real or imaginary that includes the senses of sight, sound, sense of movement, smell and taste and is experienced within a state of relaxation with a specific outcome in mind.[145]

For self-management of pain, imagery is generally used in two ways:

1. To induce relaxation and improve stress management and coping.  For example, an individual might imagine a peaceful and beautiful location where they could experience rest and well-being.
2. To help a person focus on a desired outcome. For example, a patient might imagine her or his pain as being large and bright red, and then shift the image to decrease the image’s size and modify its color. 
3. Using imagery, a person with pain can learn to reinterpret pain sensations and direct attention away from them.[146-148] Guided imagery may also help decrease levels of perceived stress and anxiety, reduce fatigue and depression, improve physical function, improve sleep and enhance a sense of self-efficacy and active coping for managing symptoms related to chronic pain conditions.[149-152]

Based on a large scale review up to March of 2018 completed by the VA HSR&D group, it was noted that there is moderate-level confidence that guided imagery is effective in improving diagnosis-related outcomes in patients with arthritis or other rheumatic diseases.  As it relates to other diagnoses,  however, the levels of confidence of its effectiveness was generally low given the issues with the research on which it was based, e.g., lack of blinding, risk of bias, etc.[299]  Posadzki and colleagues completed systematic reviews of both guided imagery for musculoskeletal pain,[153] as well as for non-musculoskeletal pain.[145]  For these reviews, they concluded that the data is encouraging but not conclusive.   Refer to “Guided Imagery” for more information.

Hypnosis

Hypnosis involves accessing a trance state of inner absorption, concentration, and focused attention.  This is established by using an induction procedure that usually includes instructions for relaxation, designed to produce an altered state of consciousness and includes a suggestion component with specific outcome goals (e.g., changes in sensory, emotional, and cognitive aspects of the pain experience ) that are outlined in advance.[156,300]

Hypnosis has been used to treat every type of pain condition imaginable over centuries and across cultures.[157]  According to Jensen and Patterson, (2014)[158], clinical outcome studies on acute and chronic pain along with neurophysiological studies in the laboratory have shown that hypnosis has three potential effects on chronic pain.  First, hypnosis is effective above and beyond placebo treatment resulting in substantial reductions in average pain intensity that is maintained for up to 12 months in some patients. Second, hypnosis teaches self-management skills patients can use regularly that can result in temporary pain relief.  Third, hypnosis has measurable effects of activity in brain areas known to be involved in processing pain.  

Systematic reviews have shown that clinical hypnosis may reduce pain intensity, pain interference, and the analgesic use across different pain conditions.[301-305]  Two 2022 systematic reviews and meta-analyses found that hypnosis was associated with moderate decrease in pain intensity and pain interference and quality of life benefits in people with chronic musculoskeletal and neuropathic pain.[306,307]  Another systematic review found hypnotic treatment is an effective therapy that has beneficial impacts on the intensity of perceived pain, psychological well-being, mood disorders, and fatigue, and in addition, it significantly improves physical functioning in MS patients.[308]  The length of hypnosis training appears to be important.  Research findings suggest that hypnosis treatment needs to last a minimum of 8 sessions to be an effective complementary approach to manage chronic musculoskeletal and neuropathic pain.[309]

Jensen and Patterson reviewed 19 controlled trials of hypnosis for chronic pain for such conditions as headache, cancer-related pain, fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, low back pain, temporomandibular pain disorder, disability-related pain, and mixed chronic pain problems.[160]  The authors concluded that hypnosis resulted in more pain reduction than no treatment; the pain reduction was maintained at 12 month follow-up in several studies.  

Similarly, a meta-analysis by Adachi et al. found that when compared to standard care, hypnosis for non-headache chronic pain provided moderate treatment benefits and also showed a moderate superior effect as compared to other psychological interventions.[161]  Some studies have shown that approximately 70% of individuals with chronic pain are able to experience a short-term reduction in chronic pain during a hypnosis session and between 20% and 30% achieve more permanent reductions in daily pain.

A systematic review of meta-analysis found that hypnosis is effective for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome, a disorder often involving pain.[162]  Hypnosis also may have benefits beyond pain relief, including improved positive affect, relaxation and increased energy.[163] An emerging field in hypnosis is targeting the so-called psychobiome and its hypnotic analogue, i.e., hypnobiome, referring to their potential efficacy to modulate the mind-gut axis in IBS patients.[310]

Neuroscience is providing a better understanding of the mechanisms of hypnosis that result in decreases in pain perception, pain interference, depression and anxiety, and an increase in global quality of life. A review of neuroimaging studies offers a possible explanation of these. Studies conducted with chronic pain patients showed a modulation of pain matrix activity during hypnosis with a specific involvement of the anterior cingulate cortex (related to emotional and cognitive processing of pain). Therefore, hypnosis seems to act upon regions underlying emotion and cognition, with an influence on pain perception and emotional regulation.[311]  Hypnosis can be offered by a practitioner in clinic or during a hospitalization and could also be provided as a self-practice through audio recordings.[312,313]  Preliminary evidence also suggests that a group format for hypnosis is an effective delivery system for teaching individual skills in using hypnosis for chronic pain management.  Findings were significant for pre- to posttreatment reductions in pain intensity and interference, which were maintained for pain intensity and continued to improve for pain interference across follow-up.[314]

For more information, refer to “Hypnosis.”

Autogenic Training

Autogenic Training (AT) is a relaxation technique developed by the German psychiatrist Johannes Heinrich Schultz in 1932.  It involves a series of simple, self-instructed mental exercises that a person can do to increase relaxation without relying on help from someone else. AT consists of passive concentration on body perceptions (i.e., weight or warmth of legs and arms, heartbeat or breathing) facilitated by repeating autosuggestion phrases (“i.e., my right arm is heavy.”[315]  There are six standard exercises according to Schult with the aim of achieving deep relaxation.

 A meta-analysis of 60 studies conducted by Stetter and Kupper found significant positive effects of AT treatment when compared to controls for clinical outcomes over a number of diagnoses, including tension headache, migraine, somatoform pain disorder (unspecified type), and Raynaud's disease.[164] A 2022 systematic review and meta-analysis of 13 studies found AT to yield a significant reduction in pain in individuals suffering from chronic pain.  Additionally, no difference was found in pain between AT and other psychological interventions such as progressive muscle relaxation, biofeedback, or self-hypnosis was found.[316]  Refer to “Autogenic Training.”

Meditation

Meditation practices are becoming more popular for individuals with pain, especially for patients seeking ways to actively cope with their situation.  Meditation practices are widely used in the VA. The popular eight-week mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program teaches a number of meditation techniques. Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) is an adaptation of the MBSR program for depression relapse that has been shown to be also helpful for depression and anxiety. A pilot study of veterans suggests that it might be helpful with PTSD.  [170,171,317-319]

There are other types of meditation programs that are available now and used in the VA.  One of these is Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC), which builds upon MBSR and focuses on extending care, kindness, empathy and acceptance toward self and others.  MSC has been shown to have many benefits including strengthening resilience which is needed to cope with stressful life events and health crises, such as pain.[320-327]

Mindfulness meditation appears to assist with psychological well-being, stress and improving and coping with pain. In several systematic reviews and meta-analyses, mindfulness meditation has led to statistically significant benefit to pain and coping.  Pain is frequently accompanied by other psychological problems such as anxiety and depression.  Several reviews and meta-analyses have also found meditation to be beneficial  to anxiety, PTSD and depression, as well as pain.[167-169,328-331]

In summary, meditation is a safe and potentially efficacious complementary method for treating certain health problems including pain, stress related difficulties, and non-psychotic mood and anxiety disorders.  For more information, refer to “Mindful Awareness” and related Whole Health tools.

Creative Arts Therapies

Art, dance, and music therapy are a significant part of complementary medicine in the twenty-first century.  These creative arts therapies contribute to all areas of health care and are present in treatments for most psychologic and physiologic illnesses.  Although the current body of solid research is small compared with that of more traditional medical specialties, the arts therapies are now validating their research through more controlled experimental and descriptive studies.  The arts therapies also contribute significantly to the humanization and comfort of modern health care institutions by relieving stress, anxiety, and pain of patients and caregivers.  Arts therapies will greatly expand their role in the health care practices of this country in the twenty-first century.[172]

Several reviews regarding the use of music therapies for cancer pain, psychological symptoms, and quality of life found significant benefit [173,322-324].  Pain was significantly reduced, as were anxiety, fatigue and depression. Overall quality of life improved.  Other uses of music therapy included patients undergoing medical procedures, such as. biopsy or cardiac and these patients had decreased pain.[325,326]  Listening to music has been shown to reduce pain intensity levels and opioid use but the magnitude of these benefits is small and, therefore, its clinical importance is unclear.[177]  However, there are many advantages to incorporating music therapy into a program of self-management, as it is inexpensive, accessible and has few side effects.

Several reviews of the literature have found art therapy also helpful in reducing adverse physiological and psychological outcomes of cancer including pain and quality of life.[174, 175  ] . Art therapy may also be helpful during hospitalization for managing pain, improving mood and decreasing anxiety.[327]  Additional high-quality research will illuminate whether art therapy can be helpful generally with managing pain and the mental health issues associated with it.

Meta-analyses and systematic reviews of dance therapy have found benefit in reduced pain and improved quality of life with individuals with Fibromyalgia.[328,329].  It was also reported that when dance had a creative component (vs. repetitive dance) for individuals with fibromyalgia and pain, there was increased effectiveness, including improved pain and quality of life. Other reviews of the literature found quantitative improvement in pain and a qualitative improvement in the pain experience.[330]  Strassel and colleagues found therapeutic benefits of dance therapy in most studies, although these results are based on generally poor-quality evidence.[176] 

Singing intervention (group) was the focus of a systematic review in 2020.[331]  In most of the studies, singing interventions were noted to reduce pain but additional studies of better quality are needed to affirm that result.

For more information, describing the types of creative art therapies, history and other research, refer to “Power of the Mind” and “Power of the Mind: Additional Resources.” 

Sleep and Self-Management of Pain

There is growing literature addressing the link between sleep disturbances and chronic pain.  Research suggests that chronic pain is frequently associated with sleep disturbances,[24]  and with developing insomnia in the future.[178,179,332,333]  Sleep disturbances are associated with a greater risk of developing a pain condition and that poor nighttime sleep is associated with increased pain and disability.[180-183,346]

It is known that pain causes changes in sleep continuity and sleep architecture, as well as increased sleepiness during the daytime.  Current theories posit that sleep deprivation and sleep disruption can increase pain sensitivity and vulnerability to pain[180] and may create a vicious cycle with sleep difficulties and pain maintaining and augmenting each other.[184,185,347]  Improving sleep quality may also be associated with long term improvements in pain.[186]

 Exercise may provide a benefit to improving sleep disruption.  A meta-analysis of fibromyalgia patients suggested that movement therapies (e.g. Tai Chi) led to significant improvement in sleep.[187]. Meta-analyses on non-pharmacological interventions for sleep, especially Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I), were found to be beneficial in improving sleep for individuals with chronic pain, with pain and depression reduced post treatment.[348-351]

For more information on sleep, refer to “Recharge” and related Whole Health tools.

Variability of Pain/Pain Flares

Pain flares are considered exacerbations of pain above an individual’s typical level.  The term “breakthrough pain” is often used interchangeably but can also signify situations when prescribed medication is either not working effectively or not lasting sufficiently. A recent randomized controlled study found that when those with a low back pain have what they consider a flare, they may not have greater than typical pain levels.  Instead, what is noted is higher psychosocial features including greater catastrophizing and lower self-efficacy, with exacerbating factors of poor sleep, and greater sedentary behavior.[352-354]

Rather than static, it appears that pain is a dynamic experience.  It changes over the course of a day or week for many patients with pain.  Fluctuations are a debilitating aspect of the chronic pain experience.  Variability of pain is associated with severity of depression, as well as decreased work productivity.[188]  A survey of 634 individuals with non-specific back pain (two years after an initial visit with primary care) found 51% of that group experienced flare-ups.[189]  Those individuals with flare-ups experienced more disability and were more likely to engage in passive coping.  

Pain flares are common and can benefit from self-management plans, which may or may not include taking additional medication.  This is often individualized based on the patient’s situation.  For example, the Sample Flare-Up Management Plan, adapted from Turk & Winter’s The Pain Survival Guide: How to Reclaim Your Life, recommends the following:[190]

• Change activity—rest cycle to decrease activities by one half.
• Cut back on physical exercises by a certain amount—check with a physical therapist to determine amount.
• Over three days, gradually increase activities up to a level prior to flare-up
• Practice relaxation and controlled breathing exercises twice as often when flare-ups occur.
• Increase use of other pain coping skills such as distraction, imagery, and positive thoughts.
• Increase frequency of relaxing activities.
• Inform family that you are having a flare-up and what you will be doing about it.
• Tell significant others what they can do to help you during the flare-up.

For more information, refer to “Pain Flare Management Plan: Suggestions to Offer Patients.”

Matt agreed to arrange appointments with various specialists who could help him learn how to self-manage his chronic pain.  Originally, he had hoped that he could start several of the above suggestions immediately.  He found, however, that his busy life made it difficult to attend so many appointments each week, and it ended up being easier for him to focus on one thing at a time.  He chose to start with pain psychology training.

Over 6 sessions, Matt learned a great deal about habitual muscular tension that he usually had but of which he had not been aware.  By engaging in relaxation and breathing exercises, he found that he could minimize the physical and emotional tension he was experiencing, manage stressors better, and decrease the impact of his pain problem.  His irritability improved as he learned CBT techniques to address the “catastrophizing” thoughts that occurred with his pain, as, “This will just get worse and worse” and “I’m a terrible dad.”  He also began developing a “flare-up plan,” and he found that even when his pain flared, he became more skilled at using coping and adaptive thinking.

After 6 sessions of pain psychology treatment, he began physical therapy.  His physical therapist developed a plan to strengthen his core and identified various stretches for him that he has now been using for quite some time.  He eventually became interested in a gentle back yoga program through his local YMCA on Saturday mornings.  He was also taught how to develop an ergonomic setup for his computer at work by his physical therapist and experienced less back and neck strain during the workday.  (Refer to “Improving Work Surroundings through Ergonomics”.)

As he was nearing the end of physical therapy, his therapist encouraged him to begin an aerobic exercise program and helped him come up with a simple walking plan.  Although at first hesitant to begin a walking exercise program due to fears of flaring up his pain, Matt eventually found that by using pacing and slowly increasing his walking time became a source of pride and a great stress reliever.  He recognized that this demonstrated to his children the importance of balance and self-care of one’s health.  Sometimes the family even joins him on his walks.

“Self-Management of Chronic Pain” was written by Shilagh A. Mirgain, PhD and by Janice Singles, PsyD (2014, updated 2024).

This Whole Health overview was made possible through a collaborative effort between the University of Wisconsin Integrative Health Program, VA Office of Patient Centered Care and Cultural Transformation, and Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation.