Chronic Pain – Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

While dealing with pain is a normal and vital part of life, more than 50 million Americans suffer from chronic pain. This is defined as pain lasting at least three months.

Common causes include:

• Past injuries or surgeries
• Arthritis
• Nerve Damage
• Severe headaches and migraines
• Infections
• Fibromyalgia

Symptoms can take many forms including:

• Aching
• Throbbing
• Burning
• Squeezing
• Stinging
• Stiffness
• Soreness

The most common types of chronic pain are generally back pain, headaches, joint, and nerve pain. This may come in the form of bulging disks, tendinitis, sciatica, and more.

Pain may also cause issues with your sleep, loss of stamina and flexibility, and changes in mood including depression, anxiety, and irritability. The Pain Journal reported that more than 60% of people with chronic pain also suffer from depression. Chronic pain can take a toll on your life but with these tips you can manage how it affects your mental health.

Treatment

Due to the variety in types and causes of chronic pain, there are various treatments that can be used.

The first thought most people have for pain treatment is over-the-counter medication such as Tylenol and ibuprofen. Over the counter treatments may also include creams, lotions and sprays that are applied to the skin to relieve pain and inflammation.

If these options don’t lessen your pain, talk to your doctor about stronger alternatives. Doctors may prescribe pain medications or administer injections in order to relieve pain.

Along with medication, physical therapy and exercise may relive pain by improving movement and strengthening muscles.

Alternative treatment for pain may include acupuncture, massage, chiropractic therapy, herbal remedies, dietary changes, and nutritional supplements.

It may take time to determine which combination works best for your body but with the proper therapy you should be able to alleviate some of your chronic pain.

Next Steps

If your chronic pain was caused by someone else’s negligence in a car accident, surgery or some other form of carelessness, contact an experienced personal injury attorney today.