Conditions & Diseases
Chronic Pain
What is Chronic Pain?
The central nervous system is made up of the brain and the spinal nerves, which are the nerves located inside the spine. The brain receives information about what is happening from the body through the spinal nerves.
Pain that persists for more than 12 weeks despite medication or treatment is referred to as chronic or persistent pain. An estimated 1.5 billion people worldwide, or one in five, have chronic pain (CP), with the incidence rising with advancing age.
It is impossible to predict who will get chronic pain in advance. But it’s well known that stress or unhappy periods increase a person’s risk of developing chronic pain.
Chronic pain can also occur in people even when standard diagnostic tests yield no results.
Most people recover from pain following an injury or operation and resume their normal lives. However, there are situations when the pain lasts longer or appears suddenly without any prior history of an accident or surgery.
Chronic pain can also be a problem for those who have:
diabetes
arthritis
fibromyalgia
irritable bowel
back pain
The brain functions as a control center, determining from these messages if it needs to take any action. Sometimes it’s simpler to imagine how the brain and messages interact to create an alert system. The sensation of pain is the outcome of the brain’s processing of this data from the alarm system. The way the brain interprets these impulses can occasionally be off.
Normally, we anticipate that pain will fade with time, but occasionally, the brain still sends pain signals. These signals can be challenging to stop, are frequently strong, and occasionally appear to have no apparent cause. Although it’s not always simple to comprehend, it’s crucial to realize that this pain is nonetheless “genuine.”
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Symptoms
Over time, CP has an impact on your social life, emotions, and even physical health. In addition to discomfort, other symptoms could include:
Anxiety
Depression
Bad sleep
Feeling utterly exhausted or drained
Irritability
Guilt
Loss of sex drive
Overuse of drugs or alcohol
Family or marital issues
Job loss
Suicidal ideas
Some CP sufferers must take increasing doses of medication to manage their pain, which can lead to drug dependence.
Diagnosis
Injuries or illnesses that may have caused the discomfort in the first place may be examined by your doctor. In order to learn more about the kind of pain you have and how long you’ve had it, they will also ask you additional questions:
What time did the pain begin?
Where does it hurt your body?
What kind of discomfort is it? Is it acute, piercing, stinging, scorching, throbbing, hammering, etc.?
On a scale of 1 to 10, how bad is your pain?
What causes the discomfort to start or intensify?
Has it been relieved by any treatments?
Imaging examinations can reveal whether you have a pain-causing joint injury or other issues:
Computed tomography, or CT: It is a strong X-ray that produces in-depth images of your body.
Magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI: It creates images of the organs and structures inside of you using magnets and radio waves.
X-ray: It creates photographs of the structures in your body using modest doses of radiation.
Treatment
Chronic Pain treatment varies from person to person. We advise consulting with a Healwise expert for a comprehensive evaluation and an accurate diagnosis tailored to your specific condition.
Healwise provides solutions for individuals facing health challenges like Chronic Pain. Our network of top-tier medical experts offers advanced treatments, including SCS Lead Implantation, DRG Lead Implantation, Intrathecal Drug Delivery Pump Implantation, Trigeminal Ganglion RFT, Decompression/Jannetta Surgery, and Spinal Blockade. We’re committed to ensuring these cutting-edge solutions are accessible and cost-effective, guiding you toward pain relief and enhanced well-being.
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