Chronic pain is any pain that lasts more than three to four months. While acute pain is the normal sensation that alerts you to an illness or injury, chronic pain persists for a few months or even longer. According to medical statistics, chronic pain is estimated to affect around twenty percent of U.S. adults. Alliance Spine Associates, LLC provides pain management solutions to enhance your musculoskeletal function and ease the pain. Normally, chronic pain is caused by chronic diseases, nervous system dysfunction, musculoskeletal injury, and autoimmune disorders. Here is a look at the common types of chronic pains.
Chronic Headaches
A chronic headache occurs for more than fifteen days per month for over three consecutive months. According to research, around fifty percent of adults in America report a headache annually, with around ninety percent reporting a lifetime history of headaches. The common types of chronic headaches are; migraines, tension headaches, eye strain headaches, and cluster headaches. You should consider medical pain management options if you have ongoing or severe headaches that don’t go away with simple home remedies.
Chronic Back Pain
Back pain is an epidemic in the U.S. and is the top cause of disability and lost productivity in workplaces. Research by the University of North Carolina, more than 84% of adults in America will experience chronic back pain at some point during their lifetime. Back pain is often caused by an injury or develops gradually due to osteoporosis, arthritis, or the normal process of wear and tear. Other causes of chronic back pain include; spinal stenosis, bulging or slipped discs, compression fractures, and structural deformities such as lordosis and scoliosis.
Chronic Nerve Pain
According to research, neuropathic pain affects one in every ten Americans. The nerve pain commonly occurs when the nerves are either damaged, compressed, or exposed to medications that damage the myelin sheath, the protective exterior nerve coating. Some common chronic nerve pain conditions include; sciatica, carpal tunnel syndrome, diabetic neuropathy, trigeminal neuralgia, etc. Sciatica is normally caused by nerve compression that produces a shooting pain that goes down the leg. Carpal tunnel syndrome is associated with repetitive movements while diabetic neuropathy affects the arms.
Chronic Joint Pain
chronic joint pain is another main type of chronic pain among Americans. Most chronic joint pain results from infections, injury, or older age. According to a medical report, arthritis is the major cause of chronic joint pain, affecting more than fifty million Americans. Other common causes of chronic joint pain include; rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, repetitive motion injury, tendinitis, and bursitis. The common symptoms of joint problems include stiffness, bruising, swelling, warmth, and redness. You might also experience sharp or dull pain, numbness, tingling, or burning pain.
Ultimately, if you struggle with one or more of the reviewed types of chronic pain, you are a good candidate for pain management. The doctor will review your symptoms, lifestyle habits, and medical history to customize your treatment. If conservative treatments such as ice or heat, physical therapy, rest, elevation, and compression don’t relieve your pain, your doctor might recommend surgical options.
