Definition
In Chronic Pain syndromes, pain lasts months or years after the body heals from an injury or illness. Chronic pain can also when there are no known sources of pain. Chronic pain is considered to be the primary diagnosis when it lasts from 3 to 6 months
Cause
Chronic pain is normally attributed to conditions that cause wide spread and long-lasting pain. Osteoarthritis, back pain, fibromyalgia, and advanced cancer are a few conditions that are known to contribute to chronic pain because, while some patients exhibit improvements due to treatment, they can still suffer from chronic pain related to these illnesses.
Chronic pain can affect how neurons respond to pain messages by making them more hypersensitive.
Symptoms
Chronic pain symptoms can range from physical to psychological. Patients suffering from chronic pain report symptoms such as:
- Anxiety
- Poor Sleep
- Fatigue
- Joint pain
- Muscle aches
- Decreased activity and flexibility
Diagnosis
Chronic pain is diagnosed by your doctor thru a thorough medical history, medical imaging and laboratory tests to pin point if there are any existing conditions that are leading to the pain.
Treatment
Treatment of chronic pain is complex and may require a layered approach.
Using medications to relieve pain, alongside physical therapy and psychological therapy may provide a well-rounded approach to relieving chronic pain in a long lasting manner. Similar to fibromyalgia, alternative or traditional medicine may be employed to alleviate chronic pain amongst the sufferers. This may include acupuncture and Yoga.
