What Is Chronic Pain?
Chronic pain is defined as pain that lasts for longer than 6 months, it can be caused by an injury, as a side effect of a surgery, or sometimes just bodily wear-and-tear.
This happens when the receptor nerve cells that send messages to the spinal cord get damaged in some way, causing the pain to be more intense and long lasting.
The result of chronic pain can be devastating, known as the terrible triad: the pain is so debilitating that it leads to the inability to sleep, and internalized symptoms such as depression and anxiety.
What Are The Symptoms of Chronic Pain?
Chronic pain can present in totally different ways with totally different symptoms depending on the underlying cause. If you’re experiencing prolonged symptoms outside of your typical norm, seek medical attention for proper diagnosis. Some of the most common symptoms are:
- Joint pain
- Aching muscles
- Fatigue
- Loss of flexibility
What Causes Chronic Pain?
So, now you know what chronic pain is and the symptoms that typically come with it, let’s talk about the causes.
It’s important to realize that chronic pain is a spectrum – and because of that, the pain and its severity will range. The conditions could be something severe, like osteoarthritis or simply normal aging.
Some of the most common are:
- Injury/Illness
- Arthritis
- Normal Aging
What Are My Treatment Options for Chronic Pain?
Patients must realize that chronic pain has lasted this long, and it isn’t just going to go away without proper medical care. It’s impossible to know just how bad it could get if left untreated, so it’s paramount that you seek trusted medical advice to help you manage your pain.
Some of the ways your doctor may treat your pain are:
1. Chiropractic care – Depending on the underlying cause of your chronic pain, our onsite chiropractic team may assess you for any spinal abnormalities that may be leading to your pain.
2. Infrared Light Therapy – This kind of light therapy is the application of light to an injury to promote an increase of circulation and relieve pain.
3. Biologic Injectables – This treatment involves a special kind of injection that has anti-inflammatory properties helping to relieve pain.
4. Trigger Point Injection Therapies – This kind of treatment is an injection into a trigger point, or knot, within a muscle that is causing your pain. This can provide relief, while we seek out the root cause.
Frequently Asked Questions about Chronic Pain
1. Is chronic pain a disability?
At this time, chronic pain is not listed in Social Security’s blue book, the listing of impairments that determine whether you automatically qualify for disability benefits.
2. Can chronic pain ever go away?
Yes – while there is no cure for chronic pain, and it will not go away on its own, a properly licensed doctor can help manage your pain – removing it from your day to day life. Schedule a free consultation to see how we can help you.
