Many people experience chronic pain, and it can happen anywhere in the body. It can be debilitating as it interferes with daily activities and leads to anxiety and depression. Before you can treat chronic pain, you need to know what causes it. If you aren’t sure, you can use a combination of lifestyle changes, medications, and therapies.
Chronic Pain Explained
Chronic pain is any type of pain that lasts more than three months. You might feel it constantly, or it might come and go. You can have it anywhere in your body. One of the problems is that the pain can interfere with your daily activities and lead to depression and anxiety. You might even have difficulty sleeping.
How Does Chronic Pain Differ From Other Types of Pain?
Another type of pain is called acute pain, which is what happens when you injure yourself. For example, the pain you feel from a broken bone or a cut is acute pain. This type of pain goes away when your body heals from the injury. Chronic pain lasts long-term, even after something has healed.
Types of chronic pain might include any of the following:
- Arthritis
- Back pain
- Neck pain
- Pain from cancer
- Headaches and migraines
- Scar tissue pain
- Muscle pain (fibromyalgia)
- Testicular pain
- Nerve pain
Is Chronic Pain Common?
Chronic pain is common, and nearly 25% of adults in the United States live with it. It is one of the most common reasons why people go to the doctor.
What Is the Cause of Chronic Pain?
Some forms of chronic pains have a specific cause, such as arthritis or cancer. You may have an old injury that still acts up. Pain from a sprain, a broken bone, or even an infection can turn into chronic pain.
You may have pain that isn’t related to any condition. This type of pain is psychosomatic pain or psychogenic pain. It is normally the result of anxiety, depression, or stress. Some scientists say that it is caused in people who have lower levels of endorphins.