CHRONIC PAIN DEFINITION

chronic pain definition

Chronic pain refers to long-term pain in the body that may last for months or years. This pain is often associated with common health problems such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, migraines, tendonitis, and carpal tunnel syndrome. Unlike acute pain, which is the body's warning signal telling us of harm, it usually lasts for a shorter period of time. When you have chronic pain, your nervous system is constantly sending pain signals to your brain, which can affect your daily life. You may experience difficulty sleeping or poor sleep quality, mood swings, irritability, feel depressed, anxious, and lose interest in daily activities. Because mental and physical health are closely related, treating chronic pain often requires addressing both the physical and psychological aspects of the pain condition. Simply put, chronic pain is a type of long-lasting physical pain that may have multiple impacts on your life and requires comprehensive treatment.