The Connection Between Pain & PTSD
While the notion of PTSD has been with us for generations, it’s gained prominence as a national health concern over the past two decades.
Once called “shell shock” or “combat fatigue,” it was originally thought of as an affliction exclusive to those in the military. With VA statistics showing that up to 20% of Veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan suffer from the effects of PTSD, that’s certainly still true today.
However, our consideration of PTSD has also evolved to include those who have gone through other traumatic experiences – like a car accident or natural disaster. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), PTSD will affect 18 million US adults at some point. In fact, experts say:
About 5% of US adults have PTSD in any given year
In 2020, about 13 million Americans had PTSD
PTSD’s Link to Pain is Real
The symptoms of PTSD can vary widely, and often include anxiety, depression and agitation. But studies show that pain is also commonly reported in people suffering from PTSD. In fact, 28% of patients involved in a study with the University of Kansas who reported a history of chronic pain screened positive for PTSD symptoms – which is considerably higher than the general population statistic of 7%. These patients also reported higher levels of pain intensity than those who screened negative for PTSD symptoms.
The physical links between PTSD and pain can be obvious – as many traumatic events can cause severe pain. Yet these links can also be subtle, stemming from the muscle tension and fatigue caused by being stressed and agitated on a constant basis.  that those who suffer chronic pain find that it often interferes with their ability to engage in social and recreational activities, which can compound existing mental decline and physical deconditioning – leading to a vicious cycle of increased pain and compromised health.
Ways to Combat PTSD & Pain
For anyone experiencing the debilitating duo of PTSD and chronic pain, seeking the advice of a trusted healthcare provider is the first step to gaining some relief. Several questions to consider asking him or her are:
Is there a non-drug therapy – like psychotherapy or counseling – that can help with my PTSD?
Are there non-drug alternatives – like yoga, acupuncture or electrotherapy – that might help my chronic pain?
Is there medication that can help with my symptoms?
For some, combating chronic pain can have real, life-changing benefits. Details of this are revealed in the post-treatment patient-centered outcome assessments conducted with RS Medical patients 30 and 60 days after treatment begins with an RS-4i Plus.
Based on over 30,000 responses from 2015 until now, patients say that electrotherapy with the RS-4i Plus decreases their level of pain by an average of 44% – reducing it from a 7.2 (on a scale of 1-10) down to a 3.9. Additional improvements that correspond with that decrease in pain are a 35% reduction in stress, a 37% improvement in mood and a 37% reduction in pain interfering with sleep.
Experts also suggest making lifestyle adjustments that may help offset some of the impacts of PTSD. Those include:
Finding a trusted person (family member, spouse, counselor, fellow Veteran) to confide in
Spending time with others who can relate to your situation
Letting those close to you know what situations may trigger symptoms
Keeping stress in check by breaking tasks down into smaller steps
Keeping a regular exercise routine
Practicing relaxation techniques or mindfulness (in fact, the VA now offers a free mindfulness app)
Link for CESAMH: https://news.va.gov/135570/ptsd-bytes-ptsd-and-chronic-pain/
A Closer Look at the RS-4i Plus
The RS-4i Plus is an advanced home-use electrotherapy device that combines high frequency (5000 Hz) Interferential Therapy (IFT) for long-lasting pain relief, with Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) for muscle rehabilitation. Patented Intersperse technology delivers both IFT and NMES during the same, uninterrupted treatment session. This excites the body’s natural beta-endorphin production to relieve pain for up to 8 hours, and provides rehabilitative muscle therapy that reduces muscle spasms, increases circulation and prevents disuse atrophy.
Take the Next Step
Healthcare Practitioners
If you are interested in a more detailed review of the RS-4i Plus mechanisms of action and clinical evidence, we invite you to request a demonstration.
Patients
The RS-4i Plus requires a prescription. If you are interested in discussing this drug-free pain relief solution with your healthcare practitioner, download our patient discussion guide to help start a conversation.