The most common types of chronic pain and how to manage them
If you have been in pain for more than 12 weeks and it is accompanied by symptoms such as fatigue, loss of appetite, difficulty sleeping or mood swings, listen up! You may be suffering from chronic pain!
This type of pain, unlike normal pain, is persistent. Both types of pain (normal and chronic) can vary in intensity from mild to severe, but normal pain stops as soon as the injury or illness that caused it is resolved.
Although chronic pain may begin with an injury, it persists for no apparent reason.
According to the report about the global pain management market, produced by Global Industry Analysts (GIA) in 2017, more than 1.5 billion people across the world are suffering from some degree of chronic pain.
This disease is the main cause of long-term disability in the United States, and affects more Americans than diabetes, heart disease and cancer, combined.
This article contains:
- Chronic back pain and its causes
- Chronic headache and its causes
- Chronic joint pain and its causes
- Chronic neuropathic pain and its causes
- When to talk to a doctor?
- Treatments for chronic pain
- General ways to manage the most common types of chronic pain
Here are the four most common types of chronic pain and how to manage them:
1. Chronic back pain
One of the main causes of absence and loss of productivity at work. Usually, chronic back pain develops due to bad habits such as bad posture when sitting in front of a computer or while sleeping.
However, it can also be brought on by an injury or as a result of arthritis and arthrosis. The most common causes are:
- Previous injury from twisting or lifting
- Damage to the soft tissue caused by tension or trauma in the back muscles, ligaments or tendons
- Spinal stenosis, implying the narrowing of the spinal cord and compression of the nerves
- Progressive development due to arthritis or osteoporosis
- Repeated bad posture, even when sleeping
- Normal wear and tear
2. Chronic headache
Consists of a constant headache, which can last from between 15 days per month for no less than three consecutive months. May last for a short or long time each day (sometimes more than four hours), like a migraine. Some of the most likely causes of chronic headaches include:
- Stress, fatigue, or lack of sleep
- Eye strain
- Problem with the nervous system or hormonal imbalances
- Inflammation or other issues to do with the blood vessels or related issues such as a stroke
- Infections, like meningitis
- Too low or high intracranial pressure
- Brain tumor
- Brain injury
As well as direct causes, there are certain risk factors that can increase your chances of experiencing chronic headaches:
- Being female
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Sleep disorders
- Obesity
- Snoring
- Excessive caffeine consumption
- Excessive consumption of headache medication
- Other chronic pain disorders
3. Chronic joint pain
Joint pain can be caused by injuries, infections or complications that come with getting older. Sometimes, pain feels like it is coming from the joints, but actually it is coming from external structures such as ligaments, tendons and muscles. Examples of these diseases include bursitis and tendinitis.
Chronic pain in various joints is generally due to osteoarthritis or inflammation (such as rheumatoid arthritis) or, in children, juvenile idiopathic arthritis. We have listed the most common types of chronic joint pain below:
- Arthrosis or osteoarthritis: common in older people and may affect the larger joints
- Rheumatoid arthritis: an autoimmune disorder that causes swelling of the join space
- Repetitive strain injury (RSI): common in athletes and person who carry out regular physical exercise
- Bursitis: inflammation caused by swelling of the liquid sacks that surround the joints
- Tendinitis: caused by the inflammation of joint tendons
4. Chronic nerve or neuropathic pain
Occurs when the nerves are compromised or damaged. Characterized by stabbing or burning pain that can appear and disappear. Some of the more common examples of chronic neuropathic pain include:
- Sciatica: generally caused by compression of the nerve that causes shooting pain in the leg
- Diabetic neuropathy: usually present in the hands or feet
- Carpal tunnel syndrome: commonly associated with repetitive movements
- Postherpetic neuralgia: a type of chronic pain that persists after a bout of herpes zoster (shingles)
- Trigeminal neuralgia: caused by an injury to the trigeminal nerve in the face
- Phantom pain: occurs when an arm or leg is removed due to an illness or injury, but the brain still receives pain messages from the nerves that originally carried impulses from the missing limb.
Although there is usually no obvious cause, some risk factors and common causes of neuropathic pain include:
- Alcoholism
- Amputation
- Chemotherapy
- Diabetes
- Problems with facial nerves
- Infection from HIV or AIDS
- Multiple myeloma
- Compression of the nerves or spinal cord from a herniated disk or arthritis in the spinal column
- Herpes
- Spine surgery
- Syphilis
- Thyroid problems
When should I talk to my doctor?
If your pain is chronic, meaning you have been suffering for more than 3 months, it is time to seek medical advice.
You should be especially aware of headaches, especially when they are constant (two or more headaches a week) and come about suddenly and intensely and seem to get worse even after taking pain killers.
If your pain is accompanied by fever, stiffness in your neck, disorientation, seizures, double vision, weakness, numbness or difficulty speaking, seek immediate medical attention. You should also seek emergency care if this pain is felt following a head injury.
Conventional and alternative treatments for chronic pain
Treatments for chronic pain can vary depending on the cause of the pain. For example, if you have joint pain and you suffer from obesity, the focus should be on weight loss. If your pain is neuropathic and is associated to another illness, such as diabetes, treatment should begin with the better management of this condition.
Conventional treatment for chronic pain, that is not related to another disease, includes anti-seizure medication, antidepressants or non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
The issue is that many of these drugs can cause mild to severe side effects when used over a long period of time, such as nausea or vomiting, stomach ulcers, etc.
Below is a list of the most conventional treatments and their effects:
Conventional Treatments for Chronic Pain
| Treatment | What is it? | Effects |
| Non-prescription analgesics | The most common are acetaminophen and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen and naproxen. | The excessive use of NSAIDs increases the risk of heart attack and stroke. They can also cause stomach ulcers, bleeding and kidney problems, so may not the best option for those suffering from chronic pain. |
| Prescription drugs | Usually corticoids, opioids or even antidepressants. | Corticoids may offer pain relief but they are associated with a range of side effects such as weight gain, stomach upset, headaches, mood swings, difficulty sleeping, weakened immune system, decreased bone density. Likewise, though opioids have shown to be effective against pain, they have also come under fire for their many side effects, such as constipation, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, as well as their potential to produce dependence when used over a prolonged period of time. |
| Topical analgesics | Include creams, lotions or sprays that are applied to the skin to relieve muscle and arthritic pain. Most of these are available over the counter. | Usually offer temporary pain relief but are not as effective when used by themselves for managing pain in the long term. |
If these treatments have not helped you manage your chronic pain or if you do not want to experience any of their side effects, there are alternatives.
Below is a list of the most conventional treatments and their effects:
Alternative Treatments for Chronic Pain
| Therapy | What is it? | Main characteristics | Benefits |
| 1. Cannabidiol (CBD) | CBD is one of over one hundred “phytocannabinoids” exclusive to Cannabis, which gives the plant its medicinal properties. It is not psychoactive and is available without a prescription in various countries across Europe, Latin America, Canada and various states across the US. | CBD has been proven to be effective in treating various types of chronic pain such as back pain, headache (migraine), joint pain and neuropathic pain. Studies carried out in Israel, Canada and E.E.U.U. illustrate the benefits of cannabinoids in treating these types of pain. | In comparison with conventional analgesics, CBD has been shown to be effective in controlling pain, without any significant side effects. |
| 2. Biofeedback | Process that allows an individual to learn how to change their physiological activity to improve their mental health and behavior. Instruments are used to measure the exact physiological activity, including brain waves, heart function, breathing, muscle activity and skin temperature. | Recommended to treat a variety of health problems, such as impotence, anxiety, insomnia and chronic migraines. | The instruments “feedback” information to the user, which, together with changes they make to their thoughts, emotions and behavior, can help the patient make the physiological changes they need. Over time, these changes can be maintained without the continuous use of instruments. This therapy does not present any side effects. |
| 3. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) | Use of a small apparatus that sends low intensity electrical impulses towards the nerves in the painful area. | May help manage many different types of pain, especially neuropathic and joint pain. | May prevent pain impulses by stimulating large nerves or causing the body to secrete endorphins (chemical substances that act as pain regulators), relieving pain without causingsignificant side effects. |
| 4. Ultrasound | Uses high-energy sound waves. | Particularly recommended for managing join, muscular and neuropathic pain, depending on the individual. | Relieves painful joints and muscles without increasing the risk of developing side effects. |
| 5. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy | Focused on connecting thoughts and behavior, usually combines cognitive restructuring techniques, relaxation training and other coping strategies. | Can be of great value to people suffering from chronic headache associated with tension. If you feel like there is a tight band around your head, dull pain or pressure that is mild to moderate on both sides of the head, this may be your type of pain. | Cognitive therapy may help you deal with your daily problems in a different way, benefiting your overall health. |
| 6. Meditation | Practice whereby the individual trains their mind or induces a state of consciousness for personal benefit, e.g. achieve a sense of calm. | Helps control chronic pain in general, and can be particularly beneficial for headaches caused by stress. | Research has shown that meditation can actually rewire your brain. A study carried out in the US revealed that patients who underwent meditation training reported pain ratings approximately 40 % lower than those who did not perform meditation. |
| 7. Chiropractic | Treatment centered around the relationship between the structure of the body, mainly the spinal cord, and its functioning. Uses a type of practical therapy called manipulation. | May be particularly beneficial for managing back pain. | Unlike conventional medical treatments, chiropractic can help alleviate chronic back pain, without exposing the patient to as many side effects. |
| 8. Acupuncture [insertar imagen referente a acupuntura] | Involves inserting fine needles into certain points of the body that are stimulated in order to correct the imbalance in the body and the improve the flow of energy. | Can help to alleviate pain in general and improve overal health. Can be particularly helpful for some cases of back pain. | Research suggests that acupuncture can be effective for treating chronic back pain, without causing any significant side effects. |
General ways to manage the most common types of chronic pain
As well as treatments, there are some general precautions you can take to prevent or treat chronic pain.
1. Reduce the stress in your life. Stress intensifies chronic pain.
2. Increase your endorphin reserves, the chemical substances in your brain capable of blocking pain messages. Physical exercise promotes the natural production of endorphins.
3. Reduce your alcohol consumption and stop smoking.
4. Follow a healthy diet and maintain a healthy weight.
5. Find a support group or seek advice from a mental health professional with whom you can talk about how you feel, share stories and learn how to deal with chronic pain.
If you are experiencing chronic pain, do not suffer in silence. Talk to a specialist and find a treatment that works for you.
Did you find this information useful? Share it with your friends and family and help a loved one free themselves of chronic pain.
Sources:
https://www.verywellhealth.com/conditions-most-often-associated-with-chronic-pain-2564563
https://www.webmd.com/pain-management/guide/11-tips-for-living-with-chronic-pain#2
https://www.webmd.com/pain-management/ss/slideshow-pain-tips
http://www.prweb.com/pdfdownload/8052240.pdf
https://www.webmd.com/back-pain/guide/back-pain-treatment-care
https://accpjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/phar.1673
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321653.php
https://www.healthline.com/health/arthritis#diet-and-exercise
https://www.healthline.com/health/osteoarthritis#exercises