Types of Chronic Pain
Types of Chronic Pain
Types of Chronic Pain
Chronic pain is categorized as a pain, which lasts for at least 12 weeks and often, persists for months or even years.
Although this pain is typically brought on by an injury or illness, in some cases, its source is unknown. In addition to the discomfort it causes, chronic pain is often accompanied by other symptoms such as a loss of appetite, fatigue, difficulty sleeping, mood changes, reduced strength and/or stamina, and limited flexibility. Understandably, patients who suffer from chronic pain frequently feel discouraged and even depressed as their discomfort makes it difficult to carry out daily tasks or to participate in the activities they enjoy most. Luckily, we offer treatment options for the numerous different types of chronic pain outlined below.
Arthritis
Arthritis is the term used to describe a painful and degenerative condition, which causes the inflammation of the joints and leads to chronic pain and stiffness.
Musculoskeletal Pain:
Musculoskeletal pain results from an injury to the nerves, ligaments, joints, bones, tendons or muscles and is often caused by accidents such as a fall, sprain, fracture, or dislocation.
Back Pain:
Patients of all ages suffer from back pain, which can be caused by injury, illness or activity. Lower back pain is typically connected to the ligaments around the spine and discs, lower back muscles, discs between the vertebrae, and abdominal and pelvic internal organs, while upper back pain can be caused by chest tumors, spine inflammation or disorders of the aorta.
Pain resulting from injury:
Many individuals suffer from chronic pain resulting from an injury; whether it is a whiplash related injury caused by a motor vehicle accident, a work related injury, or sports injury, the pain resulting from injury can be debilitating and may make it difficult to return to work.
Chronic Headaches:
While most people experience headaches periodically, individuals who suffer from chronic headaches have a headache 15 or more days each month. This persistent pain can make it difficult to focus on daily tasks and often has other side effects such as nausea and sensitivity to light or sound.
Cervicogenic Headaches:
Often mistaken for a migraine, a cervicogenic headache is characterized by chronic pain in the base of the skull or neck (cervical spine). It may also result in light sensitivity, pain around the eyes, and blurred vision.
Shoulder and Arm Pain
Chronic shoulder and arm pain can limit your mobility and make it difficult to complete daily tasks. Injuries to the shoulder and/or arms can result from manual labour, physical activities or repetitive movements.
Head and Neck Pain
Chronic head and neck pain can be caused by injury or a number of underlying conditions and often results in the following symptoms: a stiff neck, tingling or numbness, sharp or stabbing pain, difficulty with balance.
Post-surgical pain:
Chronic post-surgical pain is unfortunately one of the most frequent side effects of surgical procedures. It is characterized as post-operative pain that persists longer than three months after the procedure. This pain may restrict the patient’s physical activities; make it difficult to return to work, and negatively impact their way of life.
Myofascial Pain:
Myofascial pain, or muscle pain, is a result of the inflammation of the fascia, the connective tissues that cover the muscles. Often caused by injury or repetitive motions, this condition can impact a single muscle or an entire muscle group.
Fibromyalgia:
Fibromyalgia is a condition, which impacts the muscles and soft tissues. In addition to chronic muscle pain, this syndrome often results in fatigue and difficulty sleeping.
Neuropathic Pain:
This chronic pain condition is a result of damage or disease impacting the somotosensory nervous system. It is frequently described as a shooting or stabbing pain and can be very severe.
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS):
When the peripheral and central nervous systems malfunction or are damaged after an injury, some patients develop CRPS, a chronic condition which typically impacts one limb, such as an arm, leg, hand or foot.
Trigeminal Neuralgia:
Patients who suffer from trigeminal neuralgia frequently experience excruciating pain when performing simple tasks such as brushing their teeth or applying makeup. This pain is caused by the trigeminal nerve, which is responsible for carrying the sensation from the face to the brain.
Diabetic Neuropathic Pain:
Individuals who suffer from diabetes are at risk of developing diabetic neuropathic pain, a condition resulting from damage to the nerves, which send signals to the hands and feet. This common complication of diabetes may result in pain and numbness to the feet or may impact the function of the internal organs.
Post-shingles Neuropathic Pain:
Referred to as postherpetic neuralgia or PHN, patients who have recovered from shingles sometimes experience post-shingles neuropathic pain, which causes the pain associated with shingles to linger long after the rash has resolved.
Chronic Widespread Pain:
Chronic widespread pain (CWP) is characterized as pervasive pain that persists for three or more months. This condition can impact any area of the body and can negatively impact the patient’s quality of life when left untreated.
Abdominal Pain:
Whether you suffer from chronic abdominal pain, which is present continuously or recurring abdominal pain which comes and goes, this condition, which can be caused by a number of different factors, results in extreme discomfort and is often accompanied by other symptoms such as nausea, loss of appetite, swelling of the abdomen, and vomiting or diarrhea.
Pelvic Pain:
Chronic pelvic pain, which results in a persistent pain below the bellybutton and between the hips, has several causes and accompanying symptoms such as cramping, sharp pains, a dull aching and pain when urinating, during a bowel movement or during intercourse.
Epidermolysis Bullosa:
Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB) is the term used to describe a number of different genetic conditions that weaken the skin, causing it to be fragile and susceptible to blisters and skin erosions. Patients who suffer from EB often experience severe chronic pain as even the gentlest touch can result in extreme discomfort.
Medically Unexplained Pain:
Although in most cases, chronic pain can be connected to an injury or underlying medical condition, in some cases, the source of chronic pain is unknown. While the origin of the pain may be unknown, its symptoms can still be managed.
Go Painless
Our team at Painless Medicine and Therapeutics focuses on improving our patient’s pain conditions.
Our goal and philosophy is to make the patient’s therapeutic experience as painless as possible by finding a therapeutic plan that best treats their symptoms and lifestyle. We truly believe in collaboration and working closely with patients so that they have control over their medication, and so that the treatment aligns with our clinic’s values.
In cases where chronic pain cannot be cured, but instead must be effectively managed, our team’s purpose is to limit the complications and to minimize the severity of the symptoms experienced by the patient. We wish to optimize our patients’ control over their pain so they feel enabled to be the best possible version of themselves and enjoy life again.
If you are suffering from a chronic pain condition, we highly suggest that you visit our clinic in Toronto to see what we can do for you.
