I recently came across an article about treating chronic pain and the complexities associated with it. Pain has been a topic of interest to me ever since I sustained an injury that ultimately led to a total hip replacement at the age of 46. Chronic pain can be defined as any pain that has lasted longer than three months. Often, people that suffer from chronic pain go for years or even a lifetime without relief. It can be caused by anything from inflammation to misfiring nerves; treatments such as medication, physical therapy, behavioral therapy, and even surgery sometimes do little to help.

I can tell you from personal experience that people with chronic pain pray for that one magic cure to end their suffering. They try something, find little relief, then move on to the next treatment. Unfortunately, it is extremely rare that any single treatment will bring permanent relief. Typically, at least in Western medicine, we attempt to diagnose a problem and fix it like replacing a car part. The problem with this is that humans are complex and that issue rarely exists in insolation. When it comes to chronic pain relief, there are often multiple factors to consider.

One such method that has gained traction in the medical community for better understanding of pain is the biopsychosocial (BPS) model. The term biopsychosocial was originally used by Dr. George Engel in 1977, an internist and psychologist at the University of Rochester Medical Center in Upstate New York. Such models are trans-disciplinary, meaning that multiple fields are employed to develop theories and solutions. In this case, biology, psychology, and socio-environmental factors are considered to explain and treat pain.

According to this model, pain is not only physical but also has psychological and social/environmental components. Physical pain may include factors such as physical health, genetics, and how drugs affect the individual. Psychological components may include social skills, coping skills, mental health, and self-esteem. Last, social factors include family relationships, peer groups, and other social dynamics.

According to the BPS model, biological, psychological, and social factors affect how well a patient responds to treatments and their ultimate outcome. This type of approach has grown in popularity since it was introduced in 1977.

Concerning chronic pain, BPS uses an integrated approach for treatment. For example, associating all chronic pain with something such as inflammation or arthritis may be a mistake, as the pain may be coming from multiple sources and multiple causes. When patients continue to complain of their symptoms, physicians sometimes will say, “The pain is in their head,” and continue down the wrong course of treatment. This leads to the frustration of both the patient and the doctor and may even lead to other issues such as depression and loss of life quality.

Instead, BPS advocates addressing not only physical symptoms of pain but also emotions and expectations of recovery. In addition, BPS treatment may include cognitive behavioral therapy and/or occupational therapy. Meditation, exercise, and other forms of self-care may also be encouraged. Humans are complex organisms, and chronic pain is similarly complex. Rather than treating chronic pain as an isolated symptom with a singular cause, it should be addressed using a combination of treatments for the best outcome and relief.