Millions of people around the world keep pets. Today they are rightly called companion animals. People keep pets because pets help them emotionally. Pets matter more and more as people have fewer children and smaller families. Pets meet many of our emotional needs, and we meet theirs. It is a two-way bond.
Now studies suggest pets can also help people with chronic pain. They can even help in sciatica nerve pain treatment. Pets may help in many ways. Science now knows that treating chronic pain is more than treating the pain. It also means dealing with mood problems, poor sleep, a higher risk of metabolic disorders, and more. People with chronic pain are also more likely to have other diseases.
In hard times, people need attention and contact. But people in pain often cannot get out and see others. In many cases, a pet can bring much-needed relief.
Pets can be a strong drug-free therapy for chronic pain. That is because chronic pain comes with so many other problems, including mental health problems.
Dogs and cats are especially good for people with chronic pain and sciatica nerve pain. They quickly form an emotional bond with their people. Pets are always close by to give emotional support. They may help prevent anxiety and panic attacks.
Dogs can also sense when their people are in distress. They can make people feel better right away. They are always there to calm you down.
We expect less from pets than from children. We focus more on enjoying our time with them. So people tend to be caring and thankful toward pets. That may help them forget their pain.
Pets can be a real help on days when arthritis or fibromyalgia flares up. A pet is always near and keeps you company. Companion animals are in no hurry to go anywhere. They are happy to stay by your side for hours. Pets give love and comfort in those hard times. They can become a big part of your life.
Pets help in other ways too. They take your mind off your pain and other health problems. They help you stay active. Pets need a lot of care. You have to take them out and play with them. Slowly, they become a big part of your life. In the end, this can help both your body and your mind.
When you care for someone else, you have less time to worry about your own pain. Over time, this may change how your body responds. It may change the brain. And that can help you beat pain.
Pets also seem to help lower cortisol levels. That helps in some health problems. In recent years, doctors have learned that many chronic pain conditions come from long-term stress and high cortisol. One study found that petting a therapy dog for just 10-15 minutes causes a measurable drop in blood cortisol.
There are many case reports of patients who felt much less pain after adopting a pet. Pets may also speed recovery from more serious illness and injury.
So doctors say that if you can adopt a pet, it is one of the best things you can do, especially if you live with chronic pain. Sciatica nerve pain and other chronic pain are easier to handle with a companion. And many animals need good homes.
Frequently asked questions
Can a dog help with chronic pain?
Yes, as a support alongside treatment, not a replacement for it. A dog gets you moving, because it needs walks, play and daily care. It gives your mind somewhere to go besides the pain. And contact lowers stress. One study found that petting a therapy dog for just 10 to 15 minutes caused a measurable drop in blood cortisol. Cortisol is a stress hormone tied to many chronic pain conditions.
Can dogs feel their owner’s pain?
Dogs can tell when the person they live with is in distress. They respond right away by staying close. That closeness is part of why they help. Some days an arthritis or fibromyalgia flare keeps you home. A dog is in no hurry to go anywhere and will stay by your side for hours. That calms you and keeps you company when you cannot get out.
Can cats help with pain?
Yes. Cats, like dogs, quickly form an emotional bond with their people. That bond does the work. A cat stays near and gives steady company and emotional support. It may help head off the anxiety and panic attacks that often come with chronic pain. Caring for a cat also gives you something to focus on besides your own pain.
How do you live with constant chronic pain?
Treat more than the pain. Chronic pain comes with mood problems, poor sleep, anxiety, a higher risk of metabolic disorders and other conditions. Managing it means dealing with all of them. Staying connected matters too, because pain often cuts people off from others. A pet is one practical, drug-free part of that plan. It gives you company, a reason to move, and a daily break from thinking about the pain.
Dr. Gurpreet Singh Padda, MD, MBA, MHP
