What is chronic pain?
Chronic pain lasts beyond the length of time it normally takes to recover from an illness or injury. That could be months in some cases, but many patients have chronic pain that lasts for years or is permanent.
The type of pain can vary depending on what’s causing the problem, so your chronic pain could be the dull, constant ache and throb of joints affected by arthritis, or a sharp, stabbing pain coming from dysfunctional nerves.
Chronic pain is a widespread problem affecting millions of people. Living with chronic pain isn’t just about dealing with pain, either. It also causes fatigue and depression, and limits the kinds of activities you can do.
What causes chronic pain?
There are a number of reasons why you might develop chronic pain. Broadly speaking, there are four main categories:
- Neuropathic (nerve-related) pain
- Muscle and myofascial pain
- Inflammatory pain
- Mechanical/compressive pain
Many patients have several chronic pain problems at the same time, for instance, having both arthritis, which is inflammatory, and a herniated disc, which is mechanical.
Psychological factors also play a role in chronic pain. It’s common for people who have chronic pain conditions to suffer from anxiety, stress, and depression, which makes chronic pain worse.
How is chronic pain diagnosed?
Pain is a highly subjective experience, and there’s no accurate way of measuring or quantifying the pain someone feels. If you visit Interventional Spine and Pain Center with a chronic pain problem, it’s helpful for you to be as descriptive about your pain as possible. Your provider asks questions such as:
- Where is the pain?
- How long have you had it?
- Is it sharp or dull?
- Is it constant or not?
- What makes it worse?
- What makes it better?
They’re likely to ask you to rate your pain on a scale from 1 to 10, with one being no pain at all, and 10 being the worst pain you can imagine.
The next stage is to run some tests. You need to give blood and urine samples for analysis in the lab, and your spinal cord fluid might need testing, too. Your provider at Interventional Spine and Pain Center also measures functions such as your:
- Reflexes
- Sensation
- Balance
- Coordination
Imaging tests are vital in reaching an accurate diagnosis and assessing the condition of your internal tissues and bones. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans and computed tomography (CT) scans create clear, detailed pictures of your brain, spinal cord, and other parts of your body. X-rays are excellent for looking at bones and joints, and ultrasound for examining soft tissues.
If your provider thinks you could have nerve problems, you might need to have an electromyography test and nerve conduction studies to see if your nerves are working as they should.
To get an accurate diagnosis that results in more effective treatments for your chronic pain, call Interventional Spine and Pain Center today, or book an appointment online.
