Chronic Pain Management

Chronic pain is not always easy to spot. Many factors contribute to and complicate chronic pain, such as genetics, personal and family history, and current situation. While chronic pain can take many different forms, among the most common are:

Migraines

Migraines affect over 1 billion people across the globe and are the second most common neurological disorder. These severe headaches are recurrent and disabling. Intense pain and other unpleasant symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and fatigue separate migraines from average tension headaches. According to an article in Nature, migraines are “responsible for more disability than all other neurological disorders combined.”

Migraine symptoms occur over four stages: prodrome, aura, attack, and post-drome. Each phase’s symptoms can make dealing with migraines life-disrupting. While scientists are making headway, much remains unknown about what causes migraines.

Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a debilitating chronic pain condition that can cause widespread muscle pain, fatigue, tenderness, and “brain fog.” According to the CDC, it affects an estimated 4 million Americans, most of whom are women. It is unclear what brings on the fibromyalgia, but a handful of other conditions are associated with its onset:

• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Systemic lupus erythematosus (commonly called lupus)
• Ankylosing spondylitis
• Osteoarthritis
• Depression or anxiety
• Chronic back pain
• Irritable bowel syndrome

Neuropathy

Diabetes is the leading cause of neuropathy in the U.S. Neuropathy originates from problems in the peripheral nervous system. Think of your nervous system as having two interlocking parts: the central and peripheral nervous systems. The central nervous system comprises the brain and spinal cord and is responsible for cognition and automatic organ function. Conversely, the peripheral nervous system assists the central nervous system by sending signals throughout the body. This network of nerves carries signals throughout the body to and from the brain and spinal cord.

• Someone with neuropathic pain may experience:
• Shooting, burning or stabbing pain
• Tingling pain
• Numbness or “pins and needles” feeling
• Spontaneous pain
• Evoked pain is pain caused by things that usually don’t trigger pain
• Chronic sense of feeling unpleasant or abnormal
• Difficulty sleeping
• Emotional problems that arise as a result of chronic pain and loss of sleep

CRPS

CRPS shows up in many ways for different individuals, but the most commonly reported symptoms include:

• Sensitivity to cold or touch
• Changes to the skin and nail beds
• Continuous burning or throbbing pain, generally in the hands, feet, arms, or legs, is sometimes referred to as “pins and needles”
• Swelling of the injured or painful area
• Decreased mobility to move the affected area