Chronic pain can occur anywhere in your body. It can range from being mild and annoying to being so bad that it gets in the way of your daily activities.
Anyone can get chronic pain. It’s more common in older adults, but it’s not a normal part of aging. Older adults are more likely to have long-term medical problems, such as diabetes or arthritis, which can lead to ongoing pain.
What causes chronic pain?
What are the symptoms?
Mild to very bad pain that does not go away as expected.
Pain that is shooting, burning, aching, or electrical.
Soreness, tightness, or stiffness.
What other problems can chronic pain cause?
It can get in the way of your usual social and physical activities. You may have so much pain that you can’t go to work or school.
The emotional upset may make your pain worse. And your body’s defense system (immune system) may get weak, leading to lots of infections and illnesses.
How is chronic pain diagnosed?
You may have tests to find out if a medical problem is causing the pain. Your doctor may check for problems with your nervous system and may order blood tests. He or she may also ask you questions to check your mood and mental health and to see how well you are able to think, reason, and remember.
In most cases, test results are normal. This can make it hard to know the exact cause of the pain. But this doesn’t mean that your pain isn’t real.
How is it treated?
Using over-the-counter pain medicines such as acetaminophen, aspirin, or ibuprofen may also help. You may want to try complementary therapies such as massage and yoga.
Talk to your doctor if your pain does not go away or if it gets worse. You may need to try different treatments to find what works for you. Medicines you take by mouth, shots of numbing medicine, acupuncture, nerve stimulation, and surgery are used for some types of chronic pain.
It is important to make a clear treatment plan with your doctor. The best plan may include combining treatments.
Living with chronic pain can be hard. Counseling may help you cope. It can also help you deal with frustration, fear, anger, depression, and anxiety.
You may always have some pain. But in most cases, chronic pain can be managed so that you can get on with your life and do your daily activities.
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General Orthopedics
Specialist in treating a wide variety of injuries and conditions that impact bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles and nerves.
Arthritis
Bursitis
Chronic Pain
Deformities
Disorders
Fractures
Injuries
Sprains
Strains
Tendonitis
Meniscal Tears
Professional Affiliations
Dr. Nourian is affiliated with American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, American Board of Orthopedic Surgery, California Medical Association, North American Spine Society, Ventura County Medical Association.
