What is chronic pain?

Chronic pain is defined as persisting, continued or intermittent pain which lasts longer than 3 months, the causes of this pain can vary. Unlike acute pain which accompanies injury, chronic pain can continue after an injury has healed, sometimes it appears without clear cause or previous injury.

Common examples of chronic pain include:

• Arthritis (joint pain)
• Back pain
• Neck pain
• Posttraumatic pain
• Tumor pain
• Headaches, migraines
• Fibromyalgia (general muscle pain)
• Neuropathic pain (caused by damage to the nervous system)

States of chronic pain can cause dysfunctionality in everyday life and last for months and even years. Other than disrupting one’s social, career, or academic life it can lead to development of depression and anxiety disorders, as well as sleep disturbances; these problems are often left undiagnosed. The appearance of such comorbidities can make the pain worse which in turn makes the other symptoms worse and creates a cycle which makes treatment more difficult.

You can read more about the relationship between chronic pain and depression here: https://helpmedix.com/en/news/264-depression-and-chronic-pain

Causes of chronic pain

Because of the many types of pain and their different causes, no single finding can clearly explain all the different mechanisms which lead to the development of chronic pain. The processes of pain perception in the body are complex and much further research is needed to get a more complete and comprehensive understanding of the process of chronic pain development.

Diagnosing chronic pain

Understanding the date the pain started, as well as pain description (sharp, blunt, deep, burning…) are significant factors in the diagnostic process. It is also important to understand potential injuries, location, and pain intensity. Identifying elements which help relieve pain, as well as understanding the dynamic of pain, continuous or intermittent, can also be very helpful. Identifying other symptoms such as muscle cramps, changes in skin temperature, restricted range of motion, weakness, changes in sensation and alike can all be significant to the diagnosis.

A physical examination is conducted so the diagnostician can compare his findings to the statements of the patient.

The diagnostician can do blood analysis, urine analysis, test muscle activity (EMG), use x-rays and MRIs, test reflexes and balance and alike to create a precise diagnosis and an adequate treatment plan. 

Treating chronic pain

Treating and alleviating pain is dependent on a variety of factors, firstly, the specific type of pain in question. In some cases, the specific cause of pain cannot be identified, but treatment and attempts at alleviating pain persist, nonetheless.

Chronic pain is usually treated with a multidisciplinary approach, depending on the specific situation: pharmacotherapy, surgical interventions, injections, specific exercises, psychotherapy, ultrasound stimulation, aerobic exercises, chiropractic interventions, acupuncture, physical therapy, lifestyle changes and others.

The use of psychotherapy is extremely important if chronic pain is paired with a mental disorder, which research shows is very common. Mental disorders and chronic pain worsen each other and make treatment of both more difficult.

Changes in lifestyle can provide significant benefits with chronic pain problems. Stress reduction, physical activity and exercise, a healthy diet and quality sleep can all have positive and preventive effects with chronic pain.

Because of the complexity of the development of chronic pain good differential diagnosis is required to create an adequate treatment plan. One shouldn’t take treatment into their own hands because of the numerous potential unwanted consequences. If you think you might have problems regarding chronic pain, seek advice from a doctor or medical specialist so that you can obtain a safe and efficient treatment plan.

Chronic pain. (2024, August 16). Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4798-chronic-pain

Dydyk, A. M., & Conermann, T. (2024, May 6). Chronic pain. StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK553030/

Sheng, J., Liu, S., Wang, Y., Cui, R., & Zhang, X. (2017). The Link between Depression and Chronic Pain: Neural Mechanisms in the Brain. Neural Plasticity, 2017, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/9724371

Meda, R. T., Nuguru, S. P., Rachakonda, S., Sripathi, S., Khan, M. I., & Patel, N. (2022). Chronic Pain-Induced Depression: A Review of Prevalence and Management. Cureus. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.28416

*This text is intended for informational purposes only. If you experience any symptoms, it is recommended that you seek advice from your doctor or a qualified healthcare professional.*

*Image taken from the site: https://pixabay.com/photos/back-pain-shoulder-injury-sun-5163495/*