Many people don’t know what causes chronic pain and how to treat it. The fact is that there are many different causes, and the treatment varies greatly depending on the cause. In this article, we will talk about some common causes of chronic pain to help you better understand your situation and find a solution that works for you.
1. Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a common cause of chronic pain in women. Symptoms include widespread deep tissue pain especially in the muscles, fatigue, sleep disturbance, and headaches. It is thought to be related to abnormalities in how the brain processes pain signals sent by the body. The condition may also involve interruptions in how different parts of the brain communicate with each other.
2. Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis causes joint pain which worsens with age and affects more than 20 million Americans over 65 years old, making it one of the most frequent long-term health problems for older people. A small percentage of that population has an inherited form of osteoarthritis called familial or primary osteoarthritis. Early symptoms may include swelling of the knees, stiffness after periods of rest, and gradual loss of cartilage.
3. Carpal tunnel syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common nerve compression problem in the upper body. Symptoms often begin gradually with numbness, tingling, or pain in your thumb and first three fingers, especially at night. The median nerve, which runs from the forearm into the hand through a narrow passageway (called the carpal tunnel) at the wrist, controls sensations to several fingers and parts of the palm side of your hand.
4. Sciatica
Sciatica refers to a set of symptoms caused by irritation or pressure on one of the nerves in your low back called sciatic nerves. It may cause pain, numbness, or weakness in your leg or foot which can be temporary or chronic depending on the severity of the condition.
5. CRPS (complex regional pain syndrome)
Complex regional pain syndrome is a type of chronic pain that usually follows an injury such as a fracture, deep cut, crush injury, or surgery. Even something like prolonged pressure from sitting in one position too long can cause this disorder when normal healing goes wrong. The main features of complex regional pain syndrome are severe persistent burning and hypersensitivity in the affected limb(s).
6. Chronic low back and neck pain
Back and neck problems are by far the most common source of chronic long-term pains – we all experience minor aches and pains from time to time, but when the pain becomes constant or chronic, it can ruin your quality of life. A thorough history will determine if there are any red flags causing the problem, e.g., trauma leading to instability of a vertebrae/disc, infection, etc.
7. Migraine
One of the most common types of headache, migraines are recurring headaches that can be moderate to severe in intensity. Migraine symptoms include throbbing or pulsing pain on one side of your head, nausea, and increased sensitivity to light and sound. The pain is often preceded by visual disturbances called auras. It may cause extreme discomfort for days or even weeks.
Understanding the root cause of your chronic pain is an essential step in finding relief. If you are experiencing any type of pain that persists, you can consider visiting an integrative chiropractic center for a thorough evaluation to determine your pain’s cause and drug-free and non-invasive treatment options. Remember, there are specialists who can work with you so don’t suffer alone!
