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.
Tips on coping with chronic pain
Eating well, getting plenty of sleep and engaging in approved physical activity are all positive ways for you to handle your stress and pain. Talk to yourself constructively. Positive thinking is a powerful tool.
Chronic pain typically lasts for more than 3 months or beyond normal healing time. Causes of chronic pain include illnesses, musculoskeletal problems, injury, surgery and cancer. Sometimes there is no apparent cause. Chronic pain can affect mood, sleep and mental health, sometimes leading to anxiety or depression.
Positive self-talk before you feel pain again
I'll make plans to control it”. “I'm not hurting right now. By thinking of other things I can make this good feeling last longer. I'll make the pain less severe when it comes.”
Catastrophizing: Negative reactions towards actual or anticipated pain experiences that can include magnifying, ruminating and helplessness. Patients with chronic pain often have a difficult time adapting to their pain and there is often an increase in stress, anxiety, depression and sometimes thoughts of suicide.
Management strategies for pain include pain medicines, physical therapies and complementary therapies (such as acupuncture and massage). Studies suggest that a person's quality of life is influenced by their outlook and by the way they cope emotionally with pain.
Not getting enough vitamin D in your system may be linked to chronic pain.
Adults reporting poor general health and adults with a disability experienced an exceptionally high prevalence of chronic pain (67.6% and 52.4%, respectively) and high-impact chronic pain (48.7% and 32.0%, respectively).
Disease can also be the underlying cause of chronic pain. 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.
Acetaminophen is generally a safe option to try first for many types of pain, including chronic pain. Ask your health care provider for guidance about other medications to avoid while taking acetaminophen. Acetaminophen is not as effective as NSAIDs for the treatment of knee and hip pain related to osteoarthritis.
Chronic pain usually doesn't go away, but you can manage it with a combination of strategies that work for you.
Research published last month in the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report estimated that more than 51 million people – more than 20% of US adults – have chronic pain and 17 million – almost 7% of adults – have high-impact chronic pain.
A 55-year-old male can expect 24.7 years of life, of which 17.3 are pain-free, 2.8 are with milder, and 4.5 are with severe pain. A similarly aged female has greater longevity—27.4 years—but extra years are lived with pain—3.1 with milder and 7.0 with severe pain.
Chronic pain is far from just aching bones and sore muscles. It's a whole-body condition that takes a toll on your emotions and moods and can lead to significant mental health issues.
Inadequate magnesium intake has been associated with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, depression, and chronic pain [22,23,24].
Opioid drugs relieve pain by mimicking a naturally occurring pain-relief function within our nervous symptoms. They are the best, strongest pain relievers we have. Unfortunately, they come with side effects, some severe such as numbness, addiction, and respiratory depression, leading to overdose deaths.
If you no longer work due to the disabling impact of chronic pain, you may be eligible for the Disability Support Pension. You must have had the condition for at least two years and you must complete a detailed claim form and provide sufficient medical information to support your claim.
Evaluation of a patient with acute pain by the primary care provider to prevent the progression of chronic pain is the recommended first step. Conservative chronic pain management should begin when symptoms are mild or moderate, including physical therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and pharmacological management.
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.
Reliving past traumatic events, experiencing flashbacks, and having nightmares can lead to chronic pain. While several chronic physical conditions may increase the risk of chronic pain, we need to remember that pain perception is a subjective experience.
Furthermore, chronic pain behavior seems to be composed of at least 9 components: anxiety, attention seeking, verbal pain complaints, medication use, general verbal complaints, distorted posture and mobility, fatigue, insomnia, and depressive mood.