Pain That Won't Go Away
Everyone experiences pain from time to time. Usually it goes away with some rest and an aspirin or two. This is known as acute pain. Acute pain is your body’s way of telling you that there is some sort of injury.
Chronic pain is different. Chronic pain is defined as pain that has persisted for 3 months or more. It is pain that lasts longer than the expected healing time for an acute injury or illness. Chronic can occur in any area of the body. The pain is not as easy to fix as acute pain and is often resistant to standard medical treatments. The pain can be so severe that it interferes with daily activities. Chronic pain can have a major impact on your quality of life.
What causes chronic pain?Chronic pain often starts with an initial injury or illness. After an injury or illness heals the pain should stop. With chronic pain the pain continues, even though it shouldn’t be there anymore. The exact reason that the pain doesn’t stop is unknown, although it is believed to be due to problems with the pain signals in your body.
Symptoms
Everyone feels pain in different ways. Common ways to describe chronic pain include:
- Aching
- Burning
- Stabbing
- Throbbing
- Shooting
- Electrical
You may also experience more than one type of pain. The pain can feel different at certain times of the day. In the morning the pain may feel achy and at night it may be burning. The pain can be mild at some times and severe at other times.
In addition to the pain itself you may have other symptoms. Frequently people with chronic pain can experience:
- Fatigue
- Depression
- Irritability
- Feelings of hopelessness
- Numbness
- Tingling sensations
- Insomnia
- Tightness
- Loss of motivation
Between 50 and 65 million people in the United States are estimated to have chronic pain. Chronic pain tends to be more common among older people, because the body experiences more wear and tear with age. As the population ages the rates are expected to increase.
How is Chronic Pain Diagnosed?
A thorough physical examination and history are the most important parts of diagnosing chronic pain. Your doctor may also order tests such as xrays, MRIs, bloodwork and CT scans.
What is the treatment?
The treatment of chronic pain does not consist of only medications. The best way to treat chronic pain is by creating a customized treatment program. This can include a combination of medications, exercise, psychotherapy, physical therapy , and massage therapy. Surgery is generally considered a last resort for chronic pain.
Impact on Your Life
Having chronic pain can change your life. Many people with chronic pain have difficulties performing everyday activities. You may find it hard to go to work or even to get out of bed.
Chronic pain is especially difficult to deal with because only you can feel it. You may feel as though your life has been taken over by the pain.
Fortunately, there are things that you can do to manage your pain
Sources:
Tollison et alPractical Pain Management, 3rd Edition Robinson JP
“Chronic pain”
Physical Medicine Rehabilitation Clinics of North America 2007 Nov;18(4):761-83, vii. "Pain: Hope Through Research," NINDS. Publication date December 2001.
NIH Publication No. 01-2406