Main Types of Chronic Pain

Pain feels different to different people and is a very subjective subject. But no matter who you are or how your pain feels -sharp, aching or burning – when pain lasts more than a few days, it can impact your physical and mental health. Chronic pain is just that: Pain that lasts months or even years in any place on your body that can occur in waves or more consistently. It is a condition that can occur in a variety of forms in various areas of your body.

Headaches and migraines: The most well-known chronic pain may be headaches and migraines. These can be caused by a range of triggers from hormones to stress. Headaches can come in the form of tension or cluster and typically are short-lived and respond to medicine. Migraines can be a hereditary condition and last for days with additional symptoms of nausea, dizziness, flashing lights and intense, throbbing pain. 

Neck and back pain: You can begin to feel chronic neck or back pain if you have been involved in an accident or if you have sustained an injury related to your job or a sport. Unfortunately, even after an injury heals, it can leave issues that linger long after the incident has occured. Degeneration of vertebrae can also lead to chronic back pain.

Arthritis: Joint pain, stiffness and swelling are the key symptoms of arthritis, which can lead to a limited range of motion and constant and consistent pain. The most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis, which is when cartilage breaks down, and rheumatoid arthritis, when your own immune system attacks your joints leading to chronic pain.

Nerve damage: Sometimes chronic pain can occur long after nerves have been damaged. This may happen after surgery, trauma or an infection that has damaged nerves and these send wrong signals to pain centers.   

Living With Chronic Pain

No matter the cause of chronic pain it can lead to a disruption of daily life, stress, anxiety, insomnia, mood swings and more that can cause cyclical negativity that permeates many aspects of your life. First and foremost, our team at Pain Control Associates will sit down with you and have a conversation that will help us determine a starting point to help you ease your chronic pain. We will ask you basic questions, such as: Where is your pain? How often are you in pain? Is it affecting your life? Are you stressed or anxious? Have you had any surgeries, injuries or illnesses?

Once we discuss your symptoms and health history, we can work together on a pain management plan and go over your options for dealing with chronic pain no matter if we can pinpoint the cause or not. Treatment can range from medicine, relaxation techniques, electrical stimulation, behavior modification and more. Contact our team for an appointment today through our online form.