Everyone experiences occasional aches and pains. In fact, sudden pain is an important reaction of the nervous system that helps alert you to possible injury. When an injury occurs, when this happens pain signals travel from the area that was injured to your spinal cord and then to your brain. Pain will usually become less severe as the injury heals. However, chronic pain is different from typical pain. With chronic pain, your body continues to send pain signals to your brain, even after an injury heals. This type of pain can last for many years.
Chronic pain can limit your ability to move certain ways and reduce your flexibility, strength, stamina and endurance. This may make it challenging to get through daily tasks and activities.
Chronic pain is defined as pain that lasts at least 12 weeks. The pain may feel sharp or dull, causing a burning or aching sensation in the affected areas. It may be steady or intermittent, coming and going without any apparent reason. Chronic pain can occur in nearly any part of your body. The pain can feel different in the various affected areas.
Most common types of chronic pain are headaches, postsurgical pain, post-trauma pain, lower back pain, cancer pain, arthritis and neurogenic pain (pain caused by nerve damage), psychogenic pain (pain that isn’t caused by disease, injury, or nerve damage).
How to deal and cope with chronic pain. The main goal of treatment is to reduce pain and boost mobility. This helps you return to your daily activities without discomfort.
The severity and frequency of chronic pain can be different from individual to individual. So doctors and medical professionals create pain management plans that are specific to each person. Your pain management plan will depend on your type of symptoms and any underlying health conditions you may have. Medical treatments, lifestyle remedies, or a combination of these methods may be used to treat your chronic pain. Speaking to a medical professional is the first step to getting back to your normal self.
Sources: https://www.healthline.com/health/chronic-pain#treatment