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What is Chronic Pain?
You wake up in the morning and the first thing you feel is pain. Whether it is another migraine that has lasted for days or back pain that just won’t go away, the toll that chronic pain can take on you is huge. Our team at Augusta Pain Management wants to help you identify, treat and manage your pain, so that you can get back to being you. September is “Pain Awareness” month and we would like to give you a better understanding of this condition.
What is Chronic Pain?
It is pain that persists for an extended period of time, typically more than 6 months.
Sometimes there is an initial injury that triggers the pain such as a sprained ankle, and other times there is no evidence of trauma to the body. When you first sustain an injury, your body feels pain so you know there is something wrong. However, with chronic pain, even when the damage is healed, pain signals continue to fire in the nervous system.
Some of the most common forms of pain are headache, lower back pain, arthritis, and pain from an injury. And each person can feel different forms of pain. Here are symptoms of chronic pain from WebMD:
- Mild to severe pain that does not go away
- Pain that may be described as shooting, burning, aching, or electrical
- Feeling of discomfort, soreness, tightness, or stiffness
Pain is not a symptom that exists alone. Other problems associated with pain include:
- Fatigue
- Sleeplessness
- Withdrawal from activity and increased need to rest
- Weakened immune system
- Changes in mood including hopelessness, fear, depression, irritability, anxiety, and stress
- Disability
How is Chronic Pain Treated?
Living with chronic pain for a long period of time can affect you not only physically but mentally as well. Therefore, it will take time and a management plan to tackle this problem. The best way to get a handle on your pain is working your doctor and trying to various treatments. Treatments can include medication, acupuncture, massage, or even surgery.
In honor of “Pain Awareness” month, we hope you will continue to spread the word about chronic pain. If you think you or a loved one is suffering from this type of pain, please seek medical help. You can always call us to set up an appointment and take the first step toward recovery.
Resources
http://www.theacpa.org/10/PainAwareness.aspx
http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/guide/understanding-pain-management-chronic-pain
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/chronic_pain/chronic_pain.htm
This blog is written for informational purposes only and should not be a substitute for actual medical treatment. Please contact the APM Augusta office to schedule an appointment if you are in need of medical care.
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