Pain analysis models

"I've had a lot of worries in my life, most of which never happened." - Mark Twain

There are several ways to analyze pain and its symptoms, which have evolved over the years. Even the definition of pain has changed, going from a purely physical sensation (injuries to muscles, ligaments, tendons) to an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with these injuries, real or potential (trauma or fears).

The graphic above demonstrates one of the models used, which has evolved beyond the biological sphere, and in which it interrelates with the others. This transforms the way the patient is analyzed and treated, demystifying some concepts about anatomical or psychological "abnormalities", and adapting the treatment according to the general history. It is clear that the impact of each of the components is not uniform, and the interdisciplinarity is the key to relieving symptoms and treating the patient. Sometimes doctors and therapists cannot control all the variables, especially in more complex cases. For this very reason, the flow of information and trust are bidirectional, and allow decisions by both the doctor/therapist and the patient. Reluctant or suspicious patients tend to generate poorer outcomes.

In Bowen therapy we try to communicate openly, trying to give information and some pointers beyond the time spent on the table, so mutual trust, analysis of the patient's history and continuous feedback is important. In cases that require complementary and more specialized follow-up, other practices will normally be advised (doctors, osteopaths, psychologists, exercise professionals).

Source: Beyond Pain: An Evidence-Based and Multilingual Biopsychosocial Pain Science Training and Treatment Manual