Rather than share another one of my musings, this month I thought I'd change it up a bit and explore some of the most common questions and answers regarding chronic pain. So without further ado, let's dive right in!
What is chronic pain?
Pain usually doesn't last long, it should go away as your body heals. Chronic pain is different. Your body keeps hurting weeks, months, or even years after the injury. Doctors often define chronic pain as any pain that lasts for 3 to 6 months or more.
What is considered severe chronic pain?
Chronic pain is commonly defined as any pain which lasts more than 12 weeks. Whereas acute pain is the normal sensation which alerts us to an injury or illness, chronic pain is one that persists, often for months or even longer. Chronic pain can affect as many as eight of every 10 adults.
Is chronic pain permanent?
If pain persists more than a month or two, it can become chronic pain. This may be the result of damage to the nerves that transmit pain (neuropathic pain), but chronic pain can also affect the entire nervous system, sometimes in a permanent way.
Is chronic pain treatable?
Even with good treatment, chronic pain might not go away. It's unfortunate but true. Someone who has had ongoing back pain for 18 years shouldn't expect that after few visits to a pain doctor they'll be cured, managing chronic pain is usually a long process.
What are the 4 types of pain?
Acute pain - Begins suddenly and is usually sharp in quality. It serves as a warning of disease or a threat to the body.
Chronic pain - Pain lasting longer than three months or past the time of normal tissue healing.
Nociceptive pain - The most common type of physical pain, caused by the body's reaction to a harmful stimulus (a burn, bone fracture etc).
Neuropathic pain - Pain linked to damage to the body's neurological system.
Is Chronic Pain Syndrome a disability?
Chronic pain is not a listed impairment in Social Security's blue book, the listing of impairments that may automatically qualify you for disability benefits. There are some diagnoses that are often related to chronic pain, however, such as inflammatory arthritis.
How do you get rid of chronic pain?
Find ways to distract yourself from pain so you can enjoy life more.
Learn deep breathing or meditation to help you relax.
Reduce stress in your life wherever possible.
Boost chronic pain relief with the natural endorphins from exercise.
Cut back on alcohol, which can worsen sleep problems.
Join a support group.
Make sure you understand what kind of a problem pain really is.
Acceptance.
Make sure you have adequate support; have a good working relationship with your health practitioner, or ask to be referred to a pain specialist
What happens if chronic pain is left untreated?
Untreated pain has a profound impact on quality of life and can have physical, psychological, social, and economic consequences. Common effects of untreated chronic pain include; decreased mobility, impaired immunity, decreased concentration and sleep disturbances
What is the most common chronic pain?
Some of the most common types of chronic pain include:
Headaches
Post-surgical pain
Post-trauma pain
Lower back pain
Neurogenic pain (pain caused by nerve damage)
Psychogenic pain (pain that isn't caused by disease, injury, or nerve damage)
How can you tell the difference between muscle pain and joint pain?
Joint pain is felt more often when the body is at rest, whereas muscle pain is felt when the body is in motion. This is because pain from the joints is usually caused by the aging of the body. Joints are used to bind bones together, and protect them from knocks.
I hope this breakdown of frequently asked questions has been of help to you, whether it has helped you to understand better what you are already going through, or perhaps lead you towards finding a reason for how you are feeling.
If you are you experiencing persistent pain, such as Migraines, Sciatica, IBS, Persistent Back or Shoulder Pain, or you have been diagnosed with, or think you may have; chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), Myalgia Encephalomyelitis (M.E), or Fibromyalgia, please get in touch to see how we can help you. Maybe in spite of referrals to consultants and MRI scans, you have been told there is nothing wrong? We aim to help people who suffer from persistent pain, and for whom conventional medicine has failed to find an answer for non-specific pain, providing a cutting-edge approach to relief from chronic pain, as well as other persistent symptoms, in order to help you regain your life.
No one thinks you’re making it up.
No one thinks its imagined.
No one thinks its your fault.
To find out more about this structured approach to relief from chronic pain, navigate to the 'appointments' tab of this site to book your FREE 30-minute discovery call with one of our accredited specialist practitioners.