Just about everyone gets aches or pains at some point. But for some people, pain is a constant presence in their lives. Normally, we experience pain as a result of a specific injury. The sensation lets us know something has happened, so we can take appropriate action. But chronic pain is different.
Chronic pain lasts.
The pain may start with a specific incident, such as a sprain. Or there may be an underlying condition or disease such as arthritis or a so-called slipped disc which causes chronic pain. Pain complaints such as headache, low back pain, cancer pain, arthritis pain, or neurogenic pain, which results from damage to the peripheral nerves or to the central nervous system itself, are especially common as we get older. In addition, some people suffer chronic pain without having experienced any apparent past injury, and many of these people spend years trying to pinpoint the source of their pain. If you or someone you love is experiencing chronic pain, it's important to see a doctor to rule out specific underlying causes that require immediate medical treatment.