Chronic Pain: A Persistent Burden on Health and Well-Being.

Nowadays, chronic pain is considered not only the main symptom of rheumatic diseases but also a disease itself. It’s an enduring, often weakening condition that affects millions of people worldwide. As of late, it’s said to have become one of the most costly health problems in the U.S. The consequences of such can vary from increased financial burden and lost income to reduced productivity and struggle when performing even basic daily tasks.

So, what is chronic pain? It’s a type of pain that lasts longer than a typical recovery would and may also occur alongside a long-term condition. An example of such a condition can be arthritis, which derives from a release of a big amount of cytokines (proteins involved in immune response) that trigger inflammation. Besides this, sensitization in the central pain processing mechanism can lead to heightened physical sensitivity. As a result of these two factors, the pain can be intermittent or constant, which can significantly impair one’s quality of life, often leading to physiological limitations, emotional distress, and social isolation.

If failed to be diagnosed and managed, chronic pain can cause opioid addiction (an addiction to a class of pain relief drugs) and other serious health risks. Such can be a heightened chance of illness and a higher mortality rate. To prevent this, medical professionals must have a great understanding of chronic pain and what comes with it.

To ensure effective treatment, it’s essential to be able to distinguish chronic pain from acute pain.

Acute pain, also known as nociceptive pain, is a pain caused by something very specific. A surgery, a fractured bone, burns or cuts, child labor, etc. After the pain goes away, you may continue with life as per usual.

On the other hand, chronic pain is an ongoing pain that usually lasts over 6 months. This type of pain is almost always permanent, even if the source of it is healed or has gone away. In some cases, people may suffer chronic pain with no experience linked with the disease.

To further draw the conclusion on this comparison: acute pain is temporary, and it goes away with time, whereas chronic pain is mostly permanent and often affects the person for the rest of their life.

Understanding these distinctions is significant since chronic pain doesn’t just affect the body but also has a great impact on one’s mental health.

People experiencing chronic pain are more likely to suffer mental conditions. Hopelessness and frustration are some feelings chronic pain may cause, which may help with the development of mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety, etc. In return, stress and anxiety can have notable impacts on one’s management and experience of chronic pain. As an example, chronic stress can lead to the release of inflammatory chemicals into the body, which can worsen pain and make it significantly harder to manage.

Now that we know more about this terrible condition, an important question arises: is there a cure? The answer is simple—no, there is not.

Whilst there are ways to eliminate the pain for certain periods of time with pain relief medicine, there is no way to cure the symptom itself without finding out its cause first. If you treat the cause of chronic pain, there is a chance it may go away. As an example, if you treat arthritis, it may make the joint pain stop, but it’s different for everyone. For some people, the chronic pain stays after the cause of it is healed; for some, it stops. It depends on the severity of the illness and one’s health.

It’s worth mentioning that most people with chronic pain do not know why they’re experiencing it. They do not know the cause and therefore cannot find a cure. They may use painkillers to soothe their pain; however, its effect is ultimately ephemeral, which leads them to struggle for long periods of time. Therefore, it’s important to do general health check-ups, such as blood tests, scans, etc., just to monitor your health and make sure that you are indeed okay. Remember: health is the one thing in your life you can’t buy, so you must cherish it.

Written By: Zlata Lukovych


Sources:

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