Chronic Pain

Chronic Pain
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Chronic Pain
1. Explain the neurology behind chronic pain, what can we as occupational therapist do? Is this area within our scope of practice?
Chronic pain fires in the nervous system for a long period and may be triggered by an initial serious infection, sprained back or a current cause such as cancer or arthritis. Complaints of chronic pain include neurogenic pain, psychogenic pain, lower back pain, arthritis pain, headache and cancer pain (Ekman, 2017). Occupational therapists can use evidence-based intervention. The area is within the scope of our study as it is primary care.
2. What is the ANS and why is it important to us?
ANS stands for the autonomic nervous system (Jensen, 2018). According to Ekman (2017), the term refers to a section of the nervous system responsible for the regulation of major involuntary functions such as the activities and functions of the smooth muscles, intestinal tract muscles, glands and heart muscles. It is divided into the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system. It is important for acceleration and deceleration of the functions of these muscles.
3. Do you think the neuropathic pain article is helpful and truthful to occupational therapy practice?
The neuropathic pain article is helpful and truthful to occupational therapy practice. It gives the causes as well as the diseases that affect the somatosensory nervous system. It also gives the abnormal sensations that are affiliated with the pain.

It also gives detailed information on intervention methods for neuropathic pain that can be used for the treatment and management of the condition. The intervention methods are also based on evidence.
4. What article/study did you locate for pain management and occupational therapy, what was the targeted treatment listed for this study and share its efficacy.
I located an article by Wendy Hill titled “The Role of Occupational Therapy in Pain Management.” The article is peer reviewed and provided a great insight into the topic. The targeted treatments were vocational rehabilitation, creating coping strategies, activity adaptation, and activity management (Hill, 2016). These treatments enable patients with chronic pain to take part in activities that contain meaning and value to them regardless of pain. The article is effective because activity performance remains central to a person’s identity whose restrictions are likely to affect an individual’s wellbeing and psychological health.

References
Ekman, L. (2017). Neuroscience-Fundamentals for Rehabilitation (4th ed.). Elsevier.
Hill, W. (2016). The role of occupational therapy in pain management. Anesthesia & Intensive Care Medicine, 17(9), 451-453.
Jensen, M. (2018). Autonomic Nervous System – Organ Systems [Video]. Khan Academy.