Taking the Road Less Traveled...To the Real Cause
& Real Path to Healing Chronic Pain

By Robert S. Gallup

I am a healthcare professional who has been very sus-ceptible to chronic pain since early childhood. On my path to real healing, a full life, and a career helping others I have fortunately and gratefully discovered that chronic inflammation is the real cause of chronic pain. Most importantly I have learned how chronic inflammation can be healed!! Those of us who suffer with symptoms of this inflammation, such as pain and fatigue, know that at best these symptoms tend to wax and wane, while not completely healing. This is usually true whether we are using alternative, mainstream, or a combination of approaches. As a professional, I have had access to all of these!

The problems of chronic pain & chronic fatigue have become epidemic. In the U.S. there is well over $100 billion in lost wages. Of those living with chronic pain, 72% have done so for over three years and 34% for over ten years! The Center for Disease Control estimates at least 500,000 people have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and the American College of Rheumatology reports over 7 million women and about 700,000 men have Fibromyalgia. Chronic pain is considered the number one cause of adult disability.

While practicing wholistically with children in the 1970's, I noticed that their physical, cognitive, and emotional function seemed to be dramatically affected when they had any infection or allergy. In the mid-80's I found out why! Our behavior, immune system, and nervous system are physiologically and functionally enmeshed. I had found my first reference to Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI). I began to apply this understanding to healing the chronic pain I had had most of my life. Serendipity, accepting that real change is neither linear nor easy, further developments in PNI, and finding people who have supported my path has resulted in a wonderful quality of life that could not have been expected.

I have found that qualitatively improving these areas of behavior/lifestyle can truly heal chronic inflammation:

1. Patterns of emotional reaction
2. Musculo-skeletal abilities
3. Behaviors of self-esteem
4. Nutrition

While I've not found Google or Yahoo maps that each of us can print out and follow to the magic land of "Healed," there are definitely signposts, and tools.

1. One has to feel "bad enough," while still having hope.
2. We have already tried various alternative and mainstream approaches, and still experience a pattern of acute on chronic pain/fatigue.
3. We have learned, or are willing to learn, to take personal responsibility for our behavior.
4. There is some social support in our lives.
5. A signpost is when we start to be able to be more objective about our behavior or lifestyle.
6. We begin to accept that the anger, sadness, and fear we may feel as a result of trying to make lifestyle changes is a positive consequence of healing.
7. A major signpost is when we come to know that real healing is neither fast nor linear. It has its own time table. We are developing patience, acceptance, and trust in our new path.