Chronic pain can lead to medical problems that can result in immobility, malnutrition and an increased risk of falling. Fortunately, research also shows us that when effectively treated, brain effects related to chronic pain may be reversible.
Depression of the immune system can be caused by unrelieved pain. This may predispose the patient to wound infection, chest infection, pneumonia and, ultimately, sepsis (Wood, 2003).
Persistent pain in the elderly has huge impacts on health care system costs due to the complexity of treatment, and exacerbation of psychological conditions, comprising anxiety, depression, insomnia, and poor life quality levels.
Poorly managed postoperative pain can lead to complications and prolonged rehabilitation. Uncontrolled acute pain is associated with the development of chronic pain with reduction in quality of life. Appropriate pain relief leads to shortened hospital stays, reduced hospital costs, and increased patient satisfaction.
The problems of insomnia, depression, suicide, attention deficit, memory loss, and cognitive deficiencies are extremely common in persistent pain patients.
Pain, when it is ongoing and uncontrolled, has a detrimental, deteriorative effect on virtu- ally every aspect of a patient's life. It produces anxiety and emotional distress; undermines well-being; interferes with functional capacity; and hinders the ability to fulfill family, social, and vocational roles.
There are many causes of chronic pain. It may have started from an illness or injury, from which you may have long since recovered from, but pain remained. Or there may be an ongoing cause of pain, such as arthritis or cancer. Many people suffer chronic pain in the absence of any past injury or evidence of illness.
People living with chronic pain are at heightened risk for mental health problems, including depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders. Chronic pain can affect sleep, increase stress levels and contribute to depression. An estimated 35% to 45% of people with chronic pain experience depression.
Chronic pain that develops after an operation is often known as 'chronic or persistent post-surgical pain'. Knowing when pain becomes chronic after surgery is especially difficult because many people have had their surgery to treat a painful condition, such as a painful hernia or a long-standing back problem.
Chronic pain is one of the most common conditions found by health professionals in elderly and is associated with substantial impairment of reduced mobility, avoidance of activities, depression, sleep impairment and isolation.
One of the most common conditions leading to chronic pain and disability in the elderly is osteoarthritis. This is likely related to the obesity burden, combined with the senescence of connective tissues during aging, which might result in painful alterations at activity or rest (Satake et al., 2021).
Chronic pain is a serious health condition. Like any long-term health problem, it can lead to complications beyond physical symptoms such as depression, anxiety and trouble sleeping. Chronic pain is pain that's long-lasting. It can lead to problems with relationships and finances.
Chronic pain can interfere with your daily activities, such as working, having a social life and taking care of yourself or others. It can lead to depression, anxiety and trouble sleeping, which can make your pain worse. This response creates a cycle that's difficult to break.
Changes in brain structure
This means that chronic pain patients can have problems with memory processing, learning new things, keeping their attention focused on one task, thinking through problems and finding solutions. Motor control can also be impacted as this study explains.
The most common postoperative complications include fever, small lung blockages, infection, pulmonary embolism (PE) and deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Some complications listed here are very serious but most people having surgery will not experience them.
Sciatica, typically caused by nerve compression that triggers a shooting pain down the leg. Diabetic neuropathy, often occurring in the hands or feet. Carpal tunnel syndrome, commonly associated with repetitive motion. Postherpetic neuralgia, a type of chronic pain that persists after a shingles outbreak.
This phenomenon is called psychogenic pain, and it occurs when your pain is related to underlying psychological, emotional, or behavioral factors. What Causes Psychogenic Pain? It's not entirely clear why your brain sometimes causes pain when there seems to be no physical source.
Chronic pain is pain that is ongoing and usually lasts longer than six months. This type of pain can continue even after the injury or illness that caused it has healed or gone away. Pain signals remain active in the nervous system for weeks, months or years.
Chronic pain can disrupt people's daily routines and activities. Tasks like cooking, shopping, housework, gardening and DIY are often difficult and can cause an increase in pain and fatigue.
Rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia are well-known culprits, but persistent pain may also be due to such ailments as cancer, multiple sclerosis, stomach ulcers, AIDS, and gallbladder disease.
Untreated or undertreated chronic pain can lead to a variety of negative consequences – avoidance of activity, reduced mobility, increased risk of falls, depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, and isolation.
The incidence of chronic pain will increase in older patients. The most common causes of chronic pain in this patient population include arthritis, cancer, diabetes mellitus, and cardiovascular and neurologic diseases.