June 8, 2023 | Pain is a signal in your nervous system that something may be wrong. Pain may be sharp or dull. There are two types of pain, acute and chronic. Acute pain lets you know that you’ve suffered an injury of some sort. It usually doesn’t last long and goes away as your body heals. Chronic pain, on the other hand, can last for months and even years, In 2021, an estimated 21 percent of American adults suffered from high-impact chronic pain, pain that resulted in substantial restriction of their daily activities, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Many older adults have chronic pain. Women also report having more chronic pain than men, and they are at a greater risk for many pain conditions. Some people have two or more chronic pain conditions. And because the pain lasts so long, people who have chronic pain may also have low self-esteem, depression, and anger. Sometimes these emotions make the pain even worse.

June 8, 2023 | People with chronic pain typically suffer from headaches such as migraines, back pain, cancer pain, arthritis pain or pain resulting from nerve damage. The pain can range from soreness to a throbbing or burning ache. Chronic pain sometimes has an obvious cause but sometimes Injuries and diseases can cause changes to your body that leave you more sensitive to pain. These changes can stay in place even after you’ve healed from the original injury or disease. Something like a sprain, a broken bone or a brief infection can leave you with chronic pain. Some people also have chronic pain that’s not tied to an injury or physical illness. Healthcare providers call this response psychogenic pain or psychosomatic pain. It’s caused by psychological factors such as stress, anxiety and depression. Many scientists believe this connection comes from low levels of endorphins in the blood. Endorphins are natural chemicals that trigger positive feelings.

June 8, 2023 | A recent study from the National Institutes of Health shows that new cases of chronic pain occur more often among U.S. adults than new cases of several common conditions, including diabetes, depression and high blood pressure. The study found that the rate of chronic pain and high-impact chronic pain among adults is 21 percent and 8 percent, respectively. Chronic pain is pain that is experienced on most days or every day in the past three months, and high-impact chronic pain is pain that limits life or work activities on most days or every day during the past three months. The study also examined how pain progresses into chronic pain. Participants who experienced acute pain were more likely to develop chronic pain in the next year, with about 1 in 6 people with non-chronic pain reporting chronic pain a year later. In other words, without early intervention, what starts as an occasional ache might worsen into a long-term problem.

June 8, 2023 | Pain is subjective, which means that only the person experiencing it can identify and describe it, so it can be difficult for providers to determine the cause. Dr. Johnathan Goree, director of UAMS’ Chronic Pain Division, says for this reason you should see your health-care provider if you are experiencing long-lasting pain. You will likely be asked questions about how often your pain occurs, how it’s affecting your life and work and what makes it worse or better. You may be questioned about the amount of stress or anxiety in your life and whether you’ve had any illness or surgeries. Imaging tests may be necessary along with blood and urine tests. The best treatment plans use a variety of strategies, including medications, lifestyle changes and therapies. Dr. Goree says determining the type of pain you have and what causes it, along with your age and overall health, will help determine the best method of treating your chronic pain.

June 8, 2023 | Four lifestyle factors can affect your chronic pain and help minimize it. The first is stress, which can play a major role in chronic pain, so it’s important to reduce your stress as much as possible. Everyone has different techniques for managing their stress, but some techniques include meditation, mindfulness and deep breathing. Second is exercise. Participating in low-intensity exercises, such as walking or light swimming, for 30 minutes every day may help reduce your pain. Third is diet. It’s important to eat a healthy diet to boost your overall health. Your health-care provider may suggest trying an anti-inflammatory diet by eliminating foods that cause inflammation, such as red meat and refined carbohydrates. And the last is sleep. Getting enough quality sleep is important for your overall health. A lack of sleep can cause you to gain weight, which could make your chronic pain worse. Quality sleep is also important for stress management.