Chronic Pain

Chronic pain is pain that lasts a long time, months or even years. It may or may not have a clear cause. It is different from acute pain, which usually does have a clear cause, like an injury or illness, and gets better over time.

Chronic pain:

  • Lasts over time but may vary from day to day.
  • Does not go away despite efforts to cure it.
  • May disrupt your sleep and lead to fatigue.
  • May cause depression or anxiety.
  • May make your muscles tense, causing more pain.
  • Can disrupt your work, home life, and relationships with friends and family.

Chronic pain is a very real condition. It is not just in your head.

What causes chronic pain?

Chronic pain can develop after a major injury or illness. It may also occur because certain brain chemicals aren’t working correctly. Sometimes damaged nerves can cause the pain. Or the brain may become more sensitive to the feeling of pain or touch. Sometimes the cause of chronic pain isn't known.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms may include:

  • Mild to severe pain that does not go away in an expected amount of time.
  • Pain that may be described as shooting, burning, aching, or electrical.
  • Discomfort, soreness, tightness, or stiffness.

How is chronic pain treated?

Mild or occasional pain can be treated at home. Exercising, getting enough sleep, eating healthy foods, and using pain relievers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), and naproxen (Aleve) can help. You may also want to try complementary therapies such as massage and yoga.

Talk to your doctor if your pain does not go away or if it gets worse. You may need to try different treatments to find what works for you. Medicines you take by mouth, shots of numbing medicine, acupuncture, nerve stimulation, and surgery are used for some types of chronic pain. It is important to make a clear treatment plan with your doctor. The best plan may include combining treatments.

Counseling may help you cope with the pain and with the common reactions you might have to it, such as fear, anger, or depression.

Chronic pain often can be managed so that you can get on with your life and do your daily activities.

How can you care for yourself at home?

If you have chronic pain:

  • Pace yourself. Break up large jobs into smaller tasks. Save harder tasks for days when you have less pain.
  • Relax, and reduce stress. Relaxation techniques such as deep breathing or meditation can help.
  • Keep moving. Gentle, daily exercise, such as walking or swimming, can help reduce pain over the long run.
  • Try heat, cold packs, and massage.
  • Get enough sleep. Talk with your doctor if you have trouble sleeping.
  • Cut down on caffeine in sodas, coffee, tea, and chocolate.
  • Think positively. Your thoughts can affect your pain level. Do things that you enjoy to distract yourself when you have pain instead of focusing on the pain.
  • Take your pain medicine exactly as directed. This is very important in keeping your pain under control. Call your doctor if you think you are having a problem with your medicine.
  • It may not be possible to be completely without pain. Your goal should be to control your pain enough so that you can do the things you want to do.
  • Keep a daily pain diary. Record how your moods, thoughts, sleep patterns, activities, and medicine affect your pain. Having a record can help you and your doctor find the best ways to treat your pain.

When should you call your doctor?

Chronic pain itself is not an emergency. But call your doctor right away if:

  • You suddenly develop new or very severe pain.
  • Your pain gets worse or is out of control.
  • You feel down or blue, or you do not enjoy things like you once did. You may be depressed, which is common in people with chronic pain. Depression can be treated.