Chronic Pain Symptoms and Treatment Options

What Does Chronic Pain Mean?


Chronic pain means pain that lasts for a long time — usually 3 months or more — and persists beyond the normal healing period for an injury or illness.

Unlike acute pain, which is the body’s immediate warning signal after injury (and usually fades as you heal), chronic pain often continues even after the original cause has improved, or sometimes without a clear physical cause at all.

What Are Symptoms of Chronic Pain?

It can be:

  • Constant (always present) or intermittent (comes and goes)

  • Mild to severe

  • Localized to one area (like your lower back) or widespread (like in fibromyalgia)

Common examples include:

  • Low back pain lasting months or years

  • Arthritis pain

  • Migraines and tension headaches

  • Nerve-related pain (neuropathy)

  • Fibromyalgia

  • Pain after surgery or injury that never fully resolves

Chronic pain isn’t just a physical issue—it can also affect sleep, mood, energy, and mental health because long-term pain changes how the brain and nervous system process signals. Over time, the nervous system can become more sensitive, making pain feel worse even with less physical cause, a phenomenon known as central sensitization.

In addition to persistent discomfort, chronic pain often comes with a range of other symptoms—both physical and emotional—because it can affect the whole body and nervous system. Common symptoms include:

Physical symptoms:

  • Ongoing dull ache, burning, or shooting pain

  • Stiffness or reduced flexibility in joints or muscles

  • Muscle tightness or spasms

  • Fatigue and low energy levels

  • Sleep disturbances (trouble falling asleep or staying asleep)

  • Headaches or migraines

  • Tingling, numbness, or sensitivity to touch

  • Changes in appetite or digestion

Emotional and cognitive symptoms:

  • Mood changes such as irritability, anxiety, or depression

  • Difficulty concentrating (“brain fog”)

  • Feeling less motivated or engaged in activities

  • Increased stress levels

  • Social withdrawal or isolation

Functional impact:

  • Difficulty performing daily tasks

  • Reduced physical activity due to fear of worsening pain

  • Changes in posture or gait to compensate for discomfort

Often, these symptoms are linked because chronic pain affects both the body and the brain’s processing of pain signals, sometimes creating a cycle where pain leads to stress, which increases pain sensitivity.

Chronic Pain Support with Osteopathy Using Energy Balancing and Somatic Release (Virtual Approach)

Osteopathy is a holistic approach that recognizes the intricate connection between the body, mind, and nervous system. When supporting individuals with chronic pain, osteopathy can incorporate energy balancing and somatic release techniques to address not only physical discomfort but also the emotional and energetic patterns that may perpetuate pain. Even in a virtual setting, guided somatic practices and self-applied techniques can help restore balance, improve body awareness, and release long-held tension. Here are key principles and methods used in this approach:

Initial Comprehensive Assessment:
The process begins with a detailed virtual consultation to understand the individual’s pain history, lifestyle factors, stress patterns, and how pain impacts their daily life. The practitioner also assesses posture, breathing, and movement habits through guided observation.

Understanding the Pain-Energy Connection:
Chronic pain is often linked to dysregulated energy flow and unresolved somatic tension patterns. The practitioner explains how stress, trauma, or repetitive strain can create energetic blockages and persistent physical discomfort.

Guided Body Scanning and Awareness Practices:
Clients are guided through slow, mindful body scans to identify areas of tightness, heaviness, or energetic stagnation. This awareness is the first step toward releasing stored tension.

Energy Balancing Techniques:
The practitioner uses voice-guided visualisation, breathwork, and self-touch exercises to help clients balance their energy system. This may involve focusing attention on specific regions of the body, gently moving to stimulate circulation, or using imagery to “lighten” and “open” tense areas.

Somatic Release Exercises:
Somatic release techniques are taught for self-application, such as gentle micro-movements, stretching with intention, or rhythmic rocking to signal safety to the nervous system. These help unwind muscular holding patterns and reduce perceived pain.

Breathwork for Nervous System Regulation:
Virtual sessions often integrate breath patterns designed to activate the parasympathetic nervous system, helping reduce inflammation, calm pain signals, and restore a sense of internal safety.

Exploring Emotional-Pain Links:
The practitioner facilitates gentle reflection on whether certain emotions or memories are connected to areas of discomfort. Clients are supported in acknowledging and releasing these associations in a safe, non-judgmental way.

Self-Care and Movement Plans:
Between sessions, clients receive personalized self-care plans including daily somatic routines, hydration and nutrition tips for tissue health, and posture adjustments to maintain energy balance.

Tracking Progress and Adjusting Techniques:
Pain levels, mobility, and emotional wellbeing are tracked over time. Techniques are adapted as the client gains greater self-regulation and body awareness, aiming for long-term pain reduction.

Integration with Other Supports:
While this virtual osteopathic approach focuses on energy and somatic release, it is most effective when combined with other supportive measures such as counselling or nutrition.

Through consistent virtual sessions, clients develop the skills to read their body’s signals, release deep-seated tension, and create a more balanced internal environment—helping to break the cycle of chronic pain and improve overall quality of life.

If you are ready to explore a mind-body approach to pain relief, book your virtual osteopathic session today!