Many people may feel the pain caused by any physical injury but instead due to psychological factors. This type of pain has been termed psychogenic because it arises from the brain rather than other parts of the body. Pain can be complicated to study, and many doctors are still trying to figure out how best to diagnose this condition. It is important for those who have chronic or severe pain to understand what might be causing their condition and know the treatments available so they can get back on track with living life without discomfort. Pain in particular can ruin a person’s everyday life whether that’s work, school or socially. This article will look at the diagnosis and symptoms, causes, and treatment options of psychogenic pain.
Diagnosis and Symptoms of Psychogenic Pain
Psychogenic pain can be difficult to diagnose because it is typically only present in specific, usually somewhat uncommon cases. For instance, some patients may experience 'referred' pain, which occurs when one part of the body is affected by a problem, and another location also hurts. This frequently occurs with conditions such as angina or heart disease, where the pain is felt in the shoulders instead of the chest even though it originates from issues with blood flow.
What Types of Symptoms May Occur with Psychogenic Pain?
Headaches are also common to be caused by psychogenic factors, especially migraines or other types that occur more than once every few weeks. When someone has chronic pain that they think is potentially psychogenic, a doctor may perform a specialized test known as a 'tender point' examination. With this process, the tested person will have specific points on their body touched in a way that normally would not hurt or cause discomfort.
If these areas do hurt to the touch, the person likely has an issue with perceiving their pain. In this case, the doctor may want to have a psychological examination run on them and a variety of imaging tests to look for the physical causes of the problem.
The Causes of Psychogenic Pain
The causes of psychogenic pain are variable and depend on the individual. However, there is no evidence that psychological factors cause chronic pain. This means it may be difficult to determine whether a person's experience of pain is caused by an emotional issue or another medical condition such as arthritis, diabetes, cancer, or fibromyalgia. Because problems with psychogenic pain tend to arise from within the patient's mind, it's difficult to say exactly what causes the issues with pain perception.
In some cases, people who have been involved in car accidents or other events where they experience a great deal of stress may begin to feel discomfort due to their thoughts, which can eventually progress into full-fledged pain. It's also possible that prolonged exposure to pain triggers a change in the way the brain works, which can eventually cause their mind to 'reject' pain signals.
How is Psychogenic Pain Diagnosed and Treated?
If your doctor suspects that you have psychogenic pain, they will most likely want to perform a psychological evaluation to determine what type of person you are and what issues you may have. If they feel that your problem is severe enough, they may recommend you to a mental health specialist who can provide counseling or discuss treatment options on your behalf.
Once psychogenic pain has been diagnosed, it's important to understand that the person must also be willing to take certain steps to receive benefits from their treatment plan. If they are not interested in changing their lives and reducing the impact of stress on their body, it will be very difficult for them to get better.
Fortunately, there is a wide range of treatment options that can help people who suffer from psychogenic pain. This includes relaxation training with deep breathing, meditation, or other methods of managing physical and mental stress. In some cases, taking drugs such as pain relievers or antidepressants can help a person feel better even though they have a psychological condition.