Chronic Pain

What is chronic pain?

From: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine

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?

From: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine

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?

From: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine

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?

From: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine

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?

From: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine

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?

From: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine

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

Understanding terms used in the source

These definitions explain medical words used above. A definition is not evidence that another condition is present, and it does not predict how a symptom will develop. Ask the clinician which terms apply to the actual examination or test result.

Chronic pain

Persistent pain, usually defined as pain that has lasted longer than 3 to 6 months.

Depression

Frequently experiencing feelings of being down, miserable, and/or hopeless; struggling to recover from these moods; having a pessimistic outlook on the future; feeling a pervasive sense of shame; having a low self-worth; experiencing thoughts of suicide and engaging in suicidal behavior.

Fatigue

A subjective feeling of tiredness characterized by a lack of energy and motivation.

Healthy

No history of any serious disease, including the disease being investigated in the proband.

Which doctor should you see?

The suggested department for discussing Chronic Pain is Neurology, with a neurologist as the relevant type of clinician. General physician / Family Medicine; paediatrician for children. Referral depends on symptoms.

This is an editorial referral starting point. The appropriate clinic depends on the person’s age, symptoms, previous diagnosis and local services. The first clinician can decide whether another specialty or a team is needed; a department label does not confirm the diagnosis.

How to prepare for an assessment

Bring a short timeline of the main symptoms: when they first appeared, whether they are constant or episodic, what seems to change them, and how they affect daily activities. Include previous reports, discharge summaries, current medicines and supplements, allergies, and any relevant family history. A dated record is more useful than trying to match every feature in an online article.

Ask the clinician what is already established and what remains uncertain. If a test is suggested, ask what question it answers, what its limitations are and how the result would change the next step. The information here is not an instruction to arrange every possible test. In children, bring growth, developmental and school information if it is relevant to the concern.

• Which nervous-system findings help explain the symptoms?
• Would an assessment of walking, communication or daily function be helpful?
• Are rehabilitation or other specialist services relevant?

Treatment discussions and follow-up

Where the source describes treatments, these are an overview of possible care, not a prescription for an individual. Ask which option applies to the confirmed diagnosis, what benefit is expected, what adverse effects to watch for and how progress will be assessed. Availability, approvals and local practice can differ from the country described in the source.

Before leaving the appointment, clarify the next review date, who will communicate results, and whom to contact if the situation changes. Discuss difficulties with sleep, work, school, mobility, eating or emotional wellbeing when these are relevant. Practical support may require coordination between the treating clinician and other services.

The collected references do not establish a complete prevention or long-term outlook section for this entry. Missing information should not be interpreted as proof that prevention is impossible or that a particular outcome is inevitable. Ask what is known for the exact subtype, stage and personal circumstances, and which uncertainties remain.

When to seek emergency help

Severe breathing difficulty, collapse, new stroke-like symptoms, a seizure that is prolonged or repeated without recovery, uncontrolled major bleeding, or an immediate risk of self-harm require emergency help. In India, call 112 or reach the nearest emergency department. This is a general, non-exhaustive warning list; it is not a condition-specific triage tool.