Chronic Pain
 

Build Capacity, Restore Confidence, and Improve Daily Function
 

Chronic pain can affect movement, sleep, work, exercise, relationships, and emotional well-being. When pain continues for months, it may no longer reflect tissue damage alone. The nervous system, previous injuries, physical conditioning, stress, sleep, activity levels, and other health factors can all influence how pain is experienced.
 

At Performance and Recovery Clinic, we take a whole-person, movement-based approach to persistent pain. Rather than promising a quick fix, we focus on helping you understand your symptoms, improve function, rebuild confidence, and gradually return to meaningful activities.
 

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What Is Chronic Pain?

Chronic or persistent pain generally refers to pain that continues beyond the expected healing period, often lasting three months or longer.

Persistent pain may be associated with:

• Previous injuries

• Arthritis or degenerative changes

• Recurrent back, neck, or joint pain

• Long-term tendon problems

• Nerve irritation or neuropathic pain

• Reduced strength or physical conditioning

• Fibromyalgia or other widespread pain conditions

• Repeated flare-ups

• Fear or uncertainty around movement

• Sleep disruption, stress, and fatigue

Pain is real, even when imaging does not fully explain its intensity. A comprehensive evaluation helps identify which physical, neurological, lifestyle, and activity-related factors may be contributing.

 

Common Symptoms and Challenges

Persistent pain may involve:

• Pain that remains for months or years

• Frequent or unpredictable flare-ups

• Stiffness or reduced mobility

• Sensitivity to movement, pressure, or activity

• Reduced strength or endurance

• Difficulty sleeping

• Fatigue

• Avoidance of exercise or daily activities

• Concern about causing further injury

• Reduced confidence in the affected area

• Difficulty returning to work, sport, or recreation

The goal of care is not always to eliminate every sensation immediately. Meaningful progress may include moving more comfortably, tolerating more activity, sleeping better, recovering more quickly from flare-ups, and feeling more confident managing symptoms.

 

How We Evaluate Chronic Pain

Your assessment may include:

• Detailed symptom and health history

• Previous injuries, treatments, and imaging

• Joint mobility and movement quality

• Strength and physical capacity

• Neurological and orthopedic screening

• Activities that increase or reduce symptoms

• Sleep, stress, recovery, and activity patterns

• Work, exercise, and lifestyle demands

• Personal goals and barriers to progress

We also look for findings that may require medical referral or coordinated care with another provider.

 

Our Treatment Approach

Care is individualized according to your symptoms, health history, tolerance, and goals.

 

Chiropractic Care and Joint Mobilization

Adjustments or mobilization may be used to improve comfortable movement and reduce stiffness in selected joints.

Treatment is adapted to your sensitivity and preferences. Chiropractic care is used as one part of the plan rather than as the sole solution for persistent pain.

 

Manual Therapy

Soft tissue techniques may help reduce muscle guarding, improve movement, and make activity feel more manageable.

Manual care is generally combined with education and progressive movement to help improvements carry over beyond the treatment room.

 

Exercise Rehabilitation

Gradual exercise is often an important part of rebuilding capacity and confidence.

Your program may include:

• Comfortable mobility exercises

• Strength and endurance training

• Progressive loading

• Balance and coordination

• Walking or cardiovascular conditioning

• Movement retraining

• Pacing and activity progression

• Personalized home exercises

Exercise begins at a manageable level and progresses according to your response.

 

Focused Shockwave Therapy

Focused shockwave therapy may be considered when a specific chronic tendon or soft tissue condition is contributing to the overall pain pattern.

It is not a general treatment for all chronic pain and is recommended only when the examination identifies an appropriate target.

 

Supportive Recovery Modalities

Laser therapy, PEMF, compression, and other recovery tools may be incorporated when appropriate. These services may help support comfort and recovery but should complement—not replace—movement, education, and active rehabilitation.

 

Understanding Pain and Flare-Ups

Persistent pain does not always mean that the body is being damaged each time symptoms increase.

Pain can be influenced by:

• Sudden increases in activity

• Reduced sleep or recovery

• Stress

• Prolonged positioning

• Deconditioning

• Changes in routine

• Fear or uncertainty around movement

• Sensitivity of the nervous system

We help patients distinguish between expected symptom responses and signs that require further evaluation.

A flare-up does not automatically mean that progress has been lost. Learning how to adjust activity, recover, and gradually resume movement is an important part of long-term self-management.

 

The Performance and Recovery Method

01 — Assess

We evaluate your health history, movement, strength, neurological function, activity tolerance, previous care, and the broader factors affecting your symptoms.

02 — Treat

We use appropriate chiropractic care, manual therapy, focused shockwave, and supportive modalities to improve comfort and create opportunities for movement.

03 — Strengthen

Progressive rehabilitation helps rebuild physical capacity, confidence, and tolerance for work, exercise, and daily life.

04 — Maintain

Education, home programs, digital resources, pacing strategies, recovery habits, and periodic care help you manage symptoms and maintain progress.

 

Focusing on Function and Quality of Life

Treatment goals should reflect what matters most to you.

Depending on your needs, care may focus on helping you:

• Walk or move more comfortably

• Sleep with fewer interruptions

• Sit, stand, or drive longer

• Complete work and household tasks

• Return to the gym

• Hike, ski, cycle, golf, or run

• Participate more fully in family and social activities

• Manage flare-ups with greater confidence

• Build a sustainable exercise routine

• Reduce fear surrounding movement

Progress may be gradual and is measured through function, capacity, confidence, and quality of life—not pain scores alone.

 

Coordinated Care

Chronic pain can involve multiple physical, neurological, emotional, and medical factors. Depending on your needs, care may be coordinated with:

• Primary-care providers

• Pain-management specialists

• Physical therapists

• Neurologists or orthopedic specialists

• Behavioral health professionals

• Sleep specialists

• Nutrition professionals

• Other members of your healthcare team

We will recommend referral when another provider’s expertise may improve your care.

 

When Additional Evaluation May Be Needed

Seek prompt medical evaluation for persistent pain accompanied by:

• New or rapidly progressing weakness

• Loss of bowel or bladder control

• Numbness around the groin or saddle region

• Fever or signs of infection

• Unexplained weight loss

• Significant swelling, redness, or warmth

• New pain following major trauma

• Severe night pain that is new or worsening

• A major unexplained change in symptoms

We may recommend imaging, laboratory testing, or referral when findings suggest that additional evaluation could change the treatment plan.

 

Take the Next Step

Chronic pain is complex, but it does not have to define every part of your life. A comprehensive assessment can help identify practical opportunities to improve movement, rebuild capacity, manage flare-ups, and return to the activities that matter to you.

 

Book a New Patient Appointment

 

Performance and Recovery Clinic
100 Elk Run Drive, Unit 220
Basalt, Colorado 81621

Serving Basalt, Carbondale, Aspen, Snowmass Village, Glenwood Springs, and the Roaring Fork Valley.