Chronic Pain — Evidence Health

What is chronic pain?

Pain is a signal from your nervous system that something may be wrong. It is an unpleasant feeling, such as a prick, tingle, sting, burn, or ache. Pain may be sharp or dull. You may feel pain in one area of your body or all over. Each person feels pain differently, even if the reason for the pain is the same.

Pain might be acute or chronic. The type of pain is based on how long and how often you have pain. Acute pain starts suddenly and goes away when the cause is treated or healed. This pain lets you know that you may be injured or have a problem you need to take care of. Chronic pain lasts longer than three months or the time in which you should have healed.

If you have chronic pain, it can occur most days or every day and may last for weeks, months, or even years. It can affect all aspects of daily life, including your mood and relationships. Treatment may not get rid of chronic pain, but it can help with your symptoms.

What causes chronic pain?

Sometimes, acute pain can become chronic pain. The original cause may have been an injury or infection, or you may have an ongoing cause of pain, such as arthritis or cancer. In some cases, there is no clear cause. Environmental factors and psychological factors such as mood and stress can make chronic pain worse.

What are the symptoms of chronic pain?

Since people feel pain in different ways, two people could have the same issue, but each may have different symptoms. Chronic pain can occur anywhere in your body and may cause other symptoms such as fatigue, mood changes, or difficulty sleeping. If you have depression or stress, it may make chronic pain worse.

Who is more likely to get chronic pain?

Many older adults have chronic pain. Women also report having more chronic pain than men, and they are at a greater risk for many pain conditions. Some people have two or more chronic pain conditions. You may be more likely to have chronic pain if you have certain medical conditions such as:

Headaches or migraines
Cancer
Fibromyalgia
Arthritis
Nerve damage
Back problems

How is chronic pain diagnosed?

Chronic pain lasts three months or longer or when pain continues after your body has healed. If the cause of your pain is unknown, your health care provider may:

Ask you about your medical history
Ask you to describe the pain and how it affects your life
Do a physical exam
Order blood tests or other medical tests

What are the treatments for chronic pain?

Chronic pain is not always curable, but treatments can help. Treatments may include medicines, including pain relievers. There are also non-drug treatments, such as acupuncture, physical therapy, and sometimes surgery.

Depending on the cause of your pain and your symptoms, your provider may also recommend lifestyle changes which may include suggestions for:

Improving mental health
Managing stress
Getting to and staying at a healthy weight
Adding low-impact exercise

Courtesy of MedlinePlus, from the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Read the full topic on MedlinePlus

Medicines whose label mentions chronic pain

These medicines list it among their uses on the official FDA label. This is not a treatment recommendation: only a clinician who knows your history can decide what’s right for you.

When to get urgent help

If symptoms come on suddenly, are severe, or you’re worried, call your local emergency number or go to the nearest emergency department. For anything less urgent, contact your doctor.

Questions to ask your doctor

What is the likely cause in my case, and what tests might I need?
What are my treatment options, and what are the trade-offs?
Which symptoms mean I should seek urgent care?
What changes to diet, activity or habits would help?

This is general health information, not a diagnosis or medical advice. If you have symptoms that worry you, talk to a health professional, and call your local emergency number if it’s an emergency.