Chronic pain is an ache that lasts three months or more. The pain can happen all the time, or it may come and go. Chronic pain can affect anyone, but it mainly affects older adults. It can hinder you from doing daily duties or lead to anxiety, depression, or sleeping difficulties. Long-term illnesses like cancer or arthritis are common causes of Chronic pain New Brunswick. Chronic pain can be burning, shooting, stinging, or stiffness. Doctors treat chronic pain based on the underlying cause. There are many causes of chronic pain, but the common ones include the following:
Back pain
Chronic back pain often happens in your lower back. The pain can result from an injury or develop gradually due to arthritis or wear and tear due to aging. About eight-four percent of American adults experience chronic back pain at some point. Common causes of chronic back pain include spinal fractures, slipped or bulging discs, and spinal stenosis, which involves narrowing your spinal canal. Structural abnormalities like abnormal sideways curvature of your spine or excessive inward curvature of your lower back can lead to chronic back pain.
Headaches
A chronic headache happens for at least fifteen days a month for three or more consecutive months. Chronic headaches include a tensional headache that results from stress or fatigue and migraines caused by nervous system triggers or hormonal irregularities. Cluster headaches are also long-term and result from the enlargement of your head’s blood vessels. Straining of ocular muscles can also lead to chronic eye strain headaches.
Joint pain
Joint pain is among the leading types of chronic pain in the United States. It can be caused by injuries, infection, or tear and wear due to aging. Joint pain can be caused by inflammation of tendons, swelling of bursae, or overuse injuries common in athletes. Rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune condition that causes swelling of the joint spaces, can lead to chronic joint pain. Osteoarthritis, a type of arthritis common in older adults, primarily affects larger joints and can lead to chronic pain.
Nerve pain
Chronic nerve pain occurs when your nerves are compressed, damaged, or exposed to drugs that strip their protective exterior covering, known as the myelin sheath. Chronic nerve pain can result from diabetic neuropathy in your hands and feet or carpal tunnel syndrome, where you repetitively move your legs. Sciatica, which involves compression or damage of the sciatic nerve, can trigger shooting pain down your leg.
Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a chronic illness that causes pain all over your muscles, joint pain, and fatigue. Its cause is unknown, but factors like stress, depression, and genetics may trigger the disease. About four million people in the United States have fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia pain may come and go. There is no cure for this condition, but you can manage it through medications, lifestyle changes, and other pain-relieving therapies.
Chronic pain is pain that lasts three months or more. It can occur in any body part. Joint pain, nerve pain, headaches, back pain, and fibromyalgia are the common causes of chronic pain. Schedule an appointment at Pain & Anesthesia Care for chronic pain treatment to resume your normal activities.
