This website page is intended for members of the UK general public. It provides some general information about chronic pain
Chronic Pain
IN THIS SECTION
Pain is an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with, or resembling that associated with, actual or potential tissue damage. The purpose of pain is to alert us that something may be wrong. For sufferers of chronic pain, the condition can be debilitating and affect many aspects of life.
Read on to find out more about the condition.
What is chronic pain?
Chronic pain is defined as pain that lasts longer than 3 months, or beyond the natural healing time. It can involve complex biological, psychological and social factors.
What are the main types of chronic pain?
Chronic pain is a long-term condition, with examples including back pain, arthritis, and headache.
Pain is typically divided into two main types:
- Nociceptive pain: this is pain which is caused by an injury to the body, such as an injury, burn, or pressure
- Neuropathic pain: arises from problems with nerve signals
How many people have chronic pain?
Approximately 18% of the population across Europe are affected by moderate to severe chronic pain.
In the UK, chronic pain affects 35-51% of the adult population. The prevalence of chronic pain increases with age, with 62% of those over 75 years of age affected.
Arthritis is known to be one of the most common chronic pain disorders, affecting 8–16% of the people in Europe and the US.
Symptoms
What are the symptoms of chronic pain?
The symptoms of pain may depend on the type of chronic pain. For example, nociceptive pain tends to be sharp or aching pain; whereas, neuropathic pain, may cause stabbing, shooting, burning or aching pains, or feel like an electric shock.
Chronic pain can interfere with the ability to perform daily activities and may have an impact on sleeping and mental health. Sufferers can find they are doing less activity in an effort to minimise the pain, and could lead to increased weight, stiff joints, weak muscles, and poor fitness. The impact on daily life linked to long-term pain can include:
- Reduced involvement in family or social activities
- Difficulty concentrating
- Missing work
- Economic burden
Causes and risk factors
What causes chronic pain?
Chronic pain is common and has many different causes. While the pain can be related to other medical conditions, trauma or injury, it can also be caused by problems with the nervous system, which can send pain signals to the brain despite a lack of obvious tissue damage.
Potential causes of chronic pain include:
- Cancer: Chronic pain can occur as a result of either the disease or its treatment.
- Trauma: Surgical or accidental trauma to tissue can lead to chronic pain.
- Musculoskeletal: This can include pain from an injury and damage to the tissues. These often include a broken bone or a pulled hamstring.
Sometimes there is not an obvious identifiable cause for chronic pain.
Risk factors for chronic pain include:
- Demographic factors such as older age, social deprivation, unemployment, or manual work
- Lifestyle factors such as smoking, drinking alcohol and leading an inactive lifestyle
- A family history of chronic pain syndromes such as fibromyalgia
Diagnosis
If someone thinks they are suffering with chronic pain, it is important to visit a doctor so that they can make a diagnosis.
How is chronic pain diagnosed?
As pain measurement is subjective and very personal to each individual, the healthcare provider will need to carry out a comprehensive ‘holistic’ assessment to better understand the pain experienced. This may involve the pain specialist asking questions to understand your history, and sometimes you may be asked to fill in a questionnaire about your pain.
A detailed pain assessment will allow the healthcare professional to determine whether the pain being experienced matches a pain syndrome, or whether there is a disease that may help explain the pain.
Treatment and medication
How is chronic pain treated?
Treatment plans are tailored to the individual and usually consist of a combination of medication, exercise, and physical therapy. No single technique is guaranteed to provide complete pain relief, but most patients are able to find a combination of treatment options that helps them manage their condition.