Question

What are the challenges associated with treating chronic pain? Why can treating chronic pain be so difficult?

Answer 1

Chronic pain from arthritis is telling the person about the damage in their body. In this respect it is similar to acute pain and, presumably, if the body healed the pain would subside. But, at the moment, there is no treatment or intervention to induce that healing so the pain becomes the most troubling aspect of the disease. Chronic pain can also arise from conditions which have an unknown cause. These conditions are often misdiagnosed and the pain they produce may be dismissed by health care professionals as psychological or as drug-seeking behavior. Chronic pain can lead to a chronic stress reaction that causes an increase in blood pressure and heart rate. This stress reaction can lead to harmful health effects, such as a reduced ability to fight off illnesses and diseases. It also can increase the risk for conditions such as heart disease. Chronic pain is different. Your body keeps hurting weeks, months, or even years after the injury. Doctors often define chronic pain as any pain that lasts for 3 to 6 months or more. Chronic pain can have real effects on your day-to-day life and your mental health. But you and your doctor can work together to treat it. Sometimes chronic pain can begin without any obvious cause. But for many people, it starts after an injury or because of a health condition. Some of the leading causes include: Past injuries or surgeries, Back problems, Migraines and other headaches, Arthritis, Nerve damage and Infections. Chronic pain can range from mild to severe. It can continue day after day or come and go. The pain can feel like: A dull ache, Throbbing, Burning, Shooting, Squeezing, Stinging, Soreness, Stiffness.