Chronic Pain
Chronic pain is that which lasts for three months to years. It is different from acute pain which happens when you get hurt.
Different Forms of Chronic Pain
Chronic pain can come in many different forms and appear across your body. Common types of chronic pain include:
- Neurogenic pain,
- Back pain.
- Headaches, including migraines.
- Testicular pain (orchialgia).
- Arthritis, or joint pain.
- Lasting pain in scar tissue.
- Cancer pain near a tumor.
- Neck pain.
- Muscle pain all over (such as with fibromyalgia).
Causes
Chronic pain can be due to long-lasting illnesses such as arthritis and cancer or due to physical injuries like a sprain or a broken bone.
Sometimes people experience chronic pain without any injury or physical illness. These types of chronic pain are called psychogenic pain or psychosomatic pain.
Symptoms
People with chronic pain feel it in different ways. For some it feels like burning, shooting, squeezing, stiffness, stinging, throbbing, and for others symptoms may include anxiety, depression, or fatigue.
Treatment
Healthcare providers may suggest certain medications like anticonvulsants, antidepressants, opioids, etc depending upon the cause of your pain. In some cases, changing lifestyle (mindfulness and deep breathing for stress, exercise, diet, sleep) can help with chronic pain.
Certain therapies may also help chronic pain including, cognitive-behavioral therapy, counseling, and physical therapy.