Chronic Pain
Chronic pain is a debilitating condition that affects many millions of people worldwide. In fact, the annual economic impact of chronic pain in the United States alone, between healthcare costs, missed work, and lost productivity, has shown to be greater than heart disease, diabetes, and cancer combined.
And though it can come in many shapes and sizes, in almost all cases chronic pain can significantly impact the quality of life of those who suffer from it.
What is Chronic Pain?
Pain is generally broken down into two basic categories, acute and chronic.
Acute pain, which is the normal bodily response to injury or illness, is short-lived pain that typically goes away as the body heals. It is not pleasant, but it is our body’s way of signaling that it is being damaged so we know to do something about it.
Chronic pain, on the other hand, is any kind of pain that has persisted for at least three months without signs of improvement. It is not a normal function and is usually a sign of another underlying issue.
What Causes Chronic Pain?
Once more, we will briefly compare acute and chronic pain. One of the main characteristics of acute pain is that it usually has an obvious cause. If you accidentally touch your finger to a hot stove or slip on ice and break your arm, you will no doubt feel a jolt of pain. And there is little doubt in these instances about what caused the pain.
Chronic pain is different. Oftentimes, the precise cause can be difficult to determine, making it an especially complex condition. However, in most cases the cause of chronic pain will fall into at least one of four broad categories – medical conditions, injuries, inflammation, and psychological factors.
Medical Conditions– Chronic pain is a common symptom of many medical conditions. Sciatica and spinal stenosis cause pain because of pinched or compressed nerves. Fibromyalgia or neuropathy pain occur when nerves begin to “misbehave,” usually due to chemical changes in the body or damage to the nerves. And other conditions like rheumatoid arthritis cause chronic inflammation, often in the joints, which can result in pain.
Injuries – By their nature, injuries are traumatic to the body and its tissues. Sometimes, the very nerves that signal pain when an injury occurs become damaged themselves. This can result in pain that persists even after the injured tissues have healed.
The same thing can occur because of surgery. A surgical incision is essentially an intentional injury to the body that cuts through tissues, including nerves. Sometimes, the nerves can be damaged or grow back incorrectly after surgery, resulting in chronic pain.
Inflammation – Inflammation is the body’s natural response to injury or illness. The affected area becomes swollen and red as extra blood is rushed in to accelerate the healing process. But sometimes, inflammation can occur too much and too often, becoming chronic. This can result in persistent pain throughout the body.
Certain medical conditions, like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, diabetes, and heart disease can cause chronic inflammation, as can untreated infections or exposure to certain chemicals. General lifestyle factors, such as poor diet, obesity, stress, smoking, and excessive alcohol consumption, can also be factors.
Psychological Factors – Emotional stress, anxiety, and depression share a close relationship with chronic pain. For one, these psychological conditions often trigger the release of certain bodily chemicals that can increase inflammation. Your muscles also tend to tense up more frequently and severely when under stress. Additionally, your nervous system can become overstimulated due to the body’s natural responses to stress, adversely affecting how nerves behave and causing pain.
Symptoms of Chronic Pain
Chronic pain can manifest in various ways, including dull, aching pain, sharp/shooting/stabbing pain, stiffness, and numbness or tingling. Sometimes it can be fairly mild, while in other cases it can be completely debilitating. Other common symptoms include fatigue and changes in mood. The thing these symptoms have in common is that they do not go away on their own.
Aching pain – Aching pain may be the most common symptom of acute pain, like when you get a headache. But it also happens to be a common chronic pain symptom. Aching pain is a dull pain sensation that may often be best described as “heavy” or “sore.” Aching pain tends to affect a localized area and is usually constant, in that it tends not to come and go, but is just “always there.”
Sharp/shooting/stabbing pain – This kind of pain feels like an electric shock or an intense stabbing sensation. It is usually intermittent and can radiate across a large portion of the body. For example, patients suffering from sciatica often feel sharp pain that “shoots” from their lower back down to the legs.
Stiffness, tightness, or numbness – Not all chronic pain symptoms follow our common description of pain. Any sensation that could be described as uncomfortable may be considered chronic pain. Some examples include stiffness in the trunk or limbs, or numbness of the extremities.
Fatigue – Sleep is hard to come by when suffering from chronic pain. This lack of sleep leads to persistent fatigue while awake. Unfortunately, poor sleep can actually make chronic pain symptoms worse as well, creating a downward spiral of worsening symptoms.
Mood Changes – It’s no surprise that suffering from chronic pain can have a terribly detrimental effect on your mood. It’s frustrating to be in constant pain. But it cuts both ways. When we are stressed or anxious, our bodies respond by increasing the production of chemicals that can lead to inflammation, which in turn can make your pain worse. Pain causes anxiety, anxiety causes pain. It’s a tough spot to be in.
Management and Treatment of Chronic Pain
Managing chronic pain requires a multidisciplinary approach tailored to the individual’s specific condition and needs. Some common pain management strategies include:
Lifestyle Modifications – It begins with you. By making smart lifestyle choices, you put yourself in the driver’s seat on the road to pain relief. Eat a nutritious diet and get regular exercise to maintain a healthy weight and reduce stress. Go to bed earlier and follow some simple expert tips to improve your sleep. Try meditation, yoga, or breathing exercises to relieve stress. Changing your normal routine isn’t always easy, but it will go a long way in helping you live your best life.
Medications – Analgesics, anti-inflammatory medications, and in some cases, opioids may be prescribed to manage pain. Though pain medications carry certain risks, they can be effective at relieving chronic pain when responsibly managed by a pain expert.
Physical Therapy – Physical therapy incorporates specific low-impact exercises and stretches that improve mobility and increase strength. With time and repetition, physical therapy helps the body function better and cope with stressors more effectively, reducing pain.
Interventions – Interventions encompass a variety of drug-free pain therapies that are usually pursued when more conservative options fail to provide adequate relief. These techniques may include injections, ablation procedures, and implantable devices such as intrathecal pumps and spinal cord stimulators.
Conclusion
Chronic pain is a complex and challenging condition that requires comprehensive support and clinical expertise. It’s crucial for individuals experiencing chronic pain to consult with a pain management professional to determine the underlying cause and develop a personalized treatment plan.
With advancements in medical research and improved access to care, opportunities for chronic pain sufferers to find lasting relief and improved quality of life are as good and plentiful as they have ever been.
RELIEVE YOUR PAIN, RENEW YOUR LIFE!
