The slow medicine approach to chronic pain

ABSTRACT

Background

Pain is an aversive motivational state that drives an organism to escape, terminate, and avoid whatever is potentially threatening tissue health or survival, while teaching it to avoid situations associated with harm. The pain experience is distributed across a wide neural network that involves activation of the stress, autonomic, immune and opioid systems. Sustained or intense stimulation of the dynamic pain connectome results in nociplastic changes contribute to the development of persistent pain. A bidirectional relationship exists between these changes and psychosocial factors, further complicating the clinical picture.

Objective

The comprehensive, wholistic approach to managing chronic pain is needed. The principles of slow medicine represent a potential theoretic framework capable of changing how the healthcare system views, manages and reimburses the management of chronic pain.

Methods

The paper discusses these principles an their applicattion in the management of chronic pain. In slow medicine, the clinician is a master gardener who nurtures the patient back to optimal health rather than a mechanic who repairs damage. It seeks to replace haste, and its unintended consequences, with a calm, slow, deliberate approach to pain that benefits everyone involved in the care process.

Conclusion

The slow medicine approach is capable of improving the management of chronic pain.

KEYWORD:

• slow medicine
• low back pain
• chronic pain
• physical therapy
• interdisciplinary care

Disclosure Statement

The author declares no conflict of interest.