Do we need a new term to better understand the lives of pain patients?

As an osteopath in Hamburg, I meet people struggling with pain every day.
Pain is a complex and profound experience that goes far beyond the purely physical.
Previous concepts such as self-efficacy, pain-related anxiety and so-called catastrophizing attempt to capture these experiences, but often present an oversimplified picture of the reality of pain patients.
In today’s article, I would like to introduce a new approach developed by Fernandez and colleagues: the concept of“pain-related bodily doubts“.
This concept complements existing ideas and focuses on how pain can change our relationship to our own bodies. Physical security vs. physical doubt At its core is the idea of “physical security” – a deeply rooted feeling that our body will function and adapt to challenges in the future.
However, pain, injuries or diagnoses can turn this feeling into doubt.
We begin to question whether and how our own body can function in the world. The three dimensions of physical doubt Loss of continuity: Life no longer feels as if it is going on as usual.
Loss of transparency of the body: The body, which was previously in the background of our lives, suddenly becomes the center of our attention.
Loss of trust in the body: our belief in the reliability and performance of our own body dwindles.
These dimensions are often not directly tangible, but rather have a subliminal effect on our existence.
They combine implicit and explicit beliefs and can be both adaptive and maladaptive. A new way of communicating This concept is still in its infancy and needs further research and development.
But it has the potential to fundamentally improve the way we communicate with each other and with our patients.
It opens up new perspectives to better understand and treat the complex world of pain patients.
In my practice in Hamburg, I already incorporate such considerations into my treatments.
It is an exciting and important step towards better understanding the person behind the pain and supporting them holistically. Fernandez, A. V., J. Hartvigsen, S. Ravn, P. Stilwell, and A. Kongsted.
“Reconceptualizing Pain-related Behavior: Introducing the Concept of Bodily Doubt”. European Journal of Pain, March 8, 2023, ejp.2105. https://doi.org/10.1002/ejp.2105.