Chronic Pain

What is chronic pain?

A pain that persists for more than 3 months or sometimes for more than 6 months is called chronic pain. There are certain specific features of chronic pain. The presence of these symptoms is more important than the duration of pain. That is the reason the duration varies in the definition of chronic pain.

American chronic pain association defines chronic pain as pain that persists for more than a month after healing of the disease that produced pain.

Can chronic pain be called a disease?

Sometimes chronic pain is called a disease itself because the diseases behind the pain had healed and the pain is left. So now the pain without any reasons behind it can be called a disease.

What are the symptoms of chronic pain?

The symptoms of chronic pain are burning sensations, cramping, electric shock-like feelings, feelings of crawling of ants, itching, a feeling of numbness in the area of pain, aggravation of pain of touching the area, etc.

Is there any relation between chronic pain and depression?

Chronic pain is frequently associated with depression. This depression can be related to and because of non-treated pain, or depression itself can cause pain. Whichever is first, the association is very commonly seen.

How can chronic pain be treated?

Treatment of chronic pain is always difficult than acute pain. Here multi-modal treatment is needed. These are combinations of simple analgesics like paracetamol and tramadol, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, etc. Along with medicines, cognitive-behavioral therapy, physical therapies, etc.