As every good country music ballad reminds us, pain is a part of life.
But, while some pain is unavoidable if long-term pain is continually limiting your ability to live your best life and impacting your mental health, it falls under the purview of chronic pain and needs to be diagnosed and treated. Understanding the differences between chronic pain and acute pain is the first step to seeking and finding successful treatment and eventually living the pain-free life we desire.
What Is Acute Pain?
Acute pain is intense pain caused by something specific, such as a sports injury, a dental procedure, or surgery. While not pleasant, acute pain is a normal sensation triggered in the nervous system to alert you of a possible illness or injury. Acute pain usually begins suddenly, doesn't last longer than six months, and subsides once whatever was causing it (a broken bone, for example) heals. Once acute pain goes away, life can continue as normal.
What is Chronic Pain?
Chronic pain is a whole different story. Chronic pain persists beyond six months and can last for years. While there may have been an initial injury or illness, it has long since healed, but the pain has remained. And some people suffer chronic pain without a triggering bodily event.
Many patients who suffer from chronic pain report some of the following symptoms:
- Arthritis
- Back and Nerve Pain
- Body Aches
- Headaches
- Changes in Appetite
- Fatigue or Exhaustion
- Joint Pain
- Limited Mobility
- Reduced Strength and Flexibility
- Tense Muscles
- Poor Sleep
Chronic pain may also impact a patient's mental health. Common emotional side effects of chronic pain include:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Fear
- Feelings of Uselessness
- Loss of Interest in Normal Activities
- Thoughts of Self-harm
What Causes Chronic Pain?
If your one of the nearly 50 million Americans experiencing chronic pain, it likely means that your body is continuing to send pain signals to your brain, even after your injury or illness has healed. There are many different ways chronic pain can manifest. Chronic pain:
- It can occur in nearly any part of the body
- May feel sharp or dull
- May cause burning, tingling, or aching sensations
- It may be steady or intermittent, coming and going for no apparent reason
While many conditions are associated with chronic pain, some of the most common are:
How is Chronic Pain Treated?
People experiencing chronic pain already know that it's bad news, but the good news is that effective treatments are available. There are a variety of highly effective methods for treating chronic pain. Injections for pain management are common and often target joint pain, neck pain, back pain, and more generalized pain. Implants for pain management can also be a good option when more conservative forms of treatment have failed to eliminate discomfort. Human tissue product therapy is another non-invasive treatment method used to treat Rheumatoid Arthritis, Crohn's disease, Multiple Sclerosis, and a host of other conditions.
Many other pain management options are available at The Pain Center of San Diego, where our skilled and knowledgeable clinicians can help you alleviate your pain.
Contact The Pain Center San Diego for a Consultation
One of these clinicians is Dr. Thompson, a board-certified anesthesiologist and pain management specialist with more than 28 years of experience. She is a 2011 and 2015 Patient Choice Award recipient, but, more importantly, she is a compassionate listener and skilled caregiver who has helped thousands of patients manage their pain. Please contact us today to learn more about your treatment options.
It's time to put the pain behind you and live the life that you deserve!
You can do it. We can help.