Chronic pain often leads to long term stress. Now, anyone who has ever experienced large degrees of stress over a period of time know that this is not healthy. It can cause a number of different health issues, and that can complicate senior care, especially if someone is of an advanced age. This is definitely something that we need to keep in mind as we are helping our family members out with senior care. By reducing stress, we can sometimes reduce the risk of health complications. However, this is something that’s a lot easier to say than to do, especially when chronic pain is thrown into the equation.
Neurology experts recently conducted an experiment to better understand how and why stress and chronic pain are so closely related. Looking at lab rats, two neural pathways in the amygdala were examined that might hold more information. These pathways, the parabrachial nucleus to the central nucleus of the amygdala (PBN-CeA) and the basolateral amygdala to the Central nucleus of the amygdala (BLA-CeA), converge and are thought to be responsible for the integration of positive and negative emotions. In other words, how these neural pathways interact with each other is thought to be at least partially responsible for how we handle life and whether or not we are optimistic or pessimistic about it.
Researchers believe that a better understanding of how these neural pathways work and interact with one another can lead to better pain management, all without the use of addictive painkillers such as opioids. For anyone that has seen someone that they love suffer, this is exciting news. There’s still a way to go before this knowledge turns into something useful in a clinical setting, but a better understanding of the brain may be exactly what’s needed to help seniors dealing with pain improve the quality of their lives. It’s something that will not happen for several years, most likely, but if it happens it has the potential to help the elderly down the road. Managing chronic pain, and the stress that it provokes, is an important part of a well balanced approach to senior care.
Chronic pain presents care complications. When someone that you love suffers, they need a specific type of senior care, and a specific type of caregiver. This is why it is so important that you choose the right service to work with your family. Ensuring that your parent’s caregiver is trained and trustworthy will go a long way toward helping them get the care that they need. A good caregiver has the right training for the right situation, and when someone suffers from pain, they need a special type of care. A service can more accurately select the right caregiver to meet your family’s unique needs.
Do you have questions about senior care for a loved one? Feel free to get in touch, either by phone or by email. We will schedule a free consultation and help you to gather the information that you need to make a smart and informed decision.
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