Chronic Pain Management

Chronic pain is pain is most often associated with rheumatoid arthritis, inflamed joints, or surgery. The pain lasts longer than three months and can vary in intensity and be intermittent. Occasionally, chronic pain occurs after an original injury has healed when the brain’s warning system for pain fails to shut off and continues to indicate pain is present.

Two major categories of chronic pain are:

• Neuropathic Pain – Complex and often difficult or impossible to diagnose chronic pain that may involve diseased nerve fibers or damaged tissue.
• Musculoskeletal Pain – Chronic pain involving bones, ligaments, tendons and muscles resulting from various injuries including sports injuries and motor vehicle accidents, and repetitive strains and diseases.

Chronic pain sufferers feel constantly stressed and tense.  Over time this stress can lead to depression. This combination of pain and depression can lead to a variety of problems including anxiety, fatigue, sleep disturbance and altered moods.

Strategies to assist in coping with chronic pain include:

• Stay in touch with friends and family, don’t isolate yourself
• Stick to a daily routine and do as much as possible
• Eat properly, get enough rest and don’t let your illness stop you from appropriate exercise and having fun

For more information on chronic pain and developing strategies to manage it, contact a healthcare practitioner in your area.