Chronic pain impacts more than 50 million Americans. For some, the pain is due to an underlying condition such as fibromyalgia or osteoarthritis, while for others, the pain may be due to an injury or operation. Approximately one out of five Americans reports dealing with chronic pain on a daily basis.
Despite the prevalence, it can be difficult to explain what chronic pain feels like, sometimes leading to misdiagnosis or ineffective treatment. Many patients also wonder how long chronic pain can last, and it’s challenging to answer this question without first knowing what triggers the pain and what strategies can alleviate it.
Chronic pain, according to the NCCIH, is persistent pain that lasts for more than 12 weeks, even after treatment or constant medication.
Pain is complex to understand, and the reported intensity of pain can differ for every person. The brain and nervous system are responsible for most, if not all, pain signals in the body. While the nerves are responsible for delivering information to the brain, our brains may not always interpret these messages correctly. For many dealing with chronic pain, these pain signals sent by the nervous system to the brain are incorrectly interpreted or constantly being sent.
The most common locations for chronic pain are the back, hip, knee, and foot. Chronic pain can arise from multiple underlying conditions, and depending on a person’s physical state and activity levels, it is more likely to arise in some people than others. Some common triggers for chronic pain include:
However, it’s important to understand that chronic pain doesn’t always have a visible, measurable cause. The nervous system is complex, and chronic pain has also been linked to many emotional and mental health conditions, including depression. Even with no apparent cause, individuals can deal with immense pain that hinders their daily activities.
Because each person has a different pain tolerance, there is no standard definition of what chronic pain feels like. Common symptoms include:
Some secondary symptoms may include trouble sleeping, heightened anxiety, loss of appetite or desires, short tempers, and an inclination toward substance abuse. Patients with chronic pain are also at an increased risk of suicide and suicidal ideation.
When you describe to your primary healthcare provider that your pain has consistently lasted for more than three months, they will usually diagnose it as chronic pain. Your doctor will try to identify the root of the pain, but not all cases are simple to decode. Many physicians will recommend a full-body health check-up to illuminate what may be causing the pain.
Since the physician can only go by their patient’s explanation of what the pain feels like and where it is coming from, it can be challenging to understand right away what is causing the chronic pain. Some questions that your physician may ask include:
When answering these questions, it’s important to talk about how the chronic pain feels in comparison to other experiences in your life or how it affects your daily routine. For instance, it is helpful to share which household chores or work-related tasks you have trouble performing because of your pain.
Your doctor may recommend that you undergo other tests to diagnose possible reasons behind the chronic pain. These can include spinal fluid tests, reflex and balance tests, and possibly electromyography.
While there is a minimum period that classifies pain as being chronic pain, there is no “maximum” length of time it can last. In some cases, treatment is effective in lessening the pain within several weeks. Other times, the pain becomes a years-long battle.
Not all conditions that lead to chronic pain have simple treatment options, and for lifelong conditions like arthritis and diabetes, chronic pain can be present constantly. If the source of the pain is an injury or surgery, you may have to deal with years of pain that can be associated with scar tissue or the regeneration of nerves. Management of pain becomes the only goal if you are dealing with chronic pain that is likely to stay for years.
While there is no one reason that an individual develops chronic pain, there are possible lifestyle choices you can make to limit it. These include:
Physiotherapy and other relaxation techniques, such as meditation, can help you cope with the feelings of chronic pain over time. When the pain is related to other conditions such as nerve damage or cancer, you may be a candidate for medical marijuana.
Delta-8 and CBD products are available without a prescription in Texas. While many people associate cannabis with smoking, hemp-based products are also available as softgel capsules to swallow as you would any other pill.
Research has supported cannabis as a safer, healthier alternative to opioids as it comes without the addictive side effects. Marijuana has been shown to reduce pain perception and inflammation, and many patients report feeling less anxious as well.
If you have questions about medical cannabis or any over-the-counter CBD products, reach out for a confidential call with Texas 420 Doctors.
