What is Chronic Pain?
Chronic pain is long-lasting pain due to a condition that can’t be cured or easily treated. In some cases, the exact cause of this pain can’t be found. Chronic pain is a serious medical problem that may:
- Seem to control your life
- Lead to depression, anxiety, anger, and personality changes
- Affect work, sleep, relationships, sexuality, your overall health, and other aspects of normal life
There are myths about pain. People may say, “It can’t be real—you look fine.” Or you may hear, “You’ll just have to learn to live with it.” In fact:
- You can be in real pain and not look ill
- You don’t have to “just live with it.” With time and some help, you can learn methods for controlling pain and living well
There are tools for coping with pain; control of chronic pain is done mainly through self-management. This means that you take an active role. It doesn’t mean that you’re alone. Your healthcare providers will help you learn methods for coping with and controlling your pain. The tools you may use include:
- Exercise
- Mind/body therapies
- Medication
- Leading a healthier lifestyle
To manage your pain well, you’ll need support from your family, friends, and healthcare providers. Don’t be afraid to ask them for help.
National resources:
American Chronic Pain Association;
American Pain Foundation;
http://www.painfoundation.org/learn/
American Academy of Pain Management;