Chronic pain is an exhausting condition which affects millions of people worldwide. It can make performing your daily activities a challenge. It affects your quality of life by disrupting your physical as well as emotional well-being. It can manifest in different categories and types. People can also experience its different types simultaneously.
In this blog, we’ll learn about chronic pain and its types, so you can have a better understanding of this condition, which will also help you manage it appropriately.
What Are The Types Of Chronic pain?
Chronic pain can be a persistent or intermittent pain that lasts for more than 3 months.
It can be caused by a variety of factors involving physical, emotional and environmental factors.
It is a complex condition having different types, each with its own characteristics, symptoms and treatment strategies. Here are the main types of chronic pain:
Nociceptive Pain:
It is the most common type of pain and is caused by damage to body tissue. It is caused by activation of nociceptors, sensory nerve endings that detect harmful stimuli like physical injury, burn,or contusions.
It can be an aching, throbbing or sharp pain localised to the injury, along with redness, swelling and tenderness.
It can be somatic pain that originates from skin, muscles, bones or connective tissue, or visceral pain that arises from internal organs like menstrual cramps and gallbladder pain.
Treatment options may include rest, cold therapy, physical therapy, medications like non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or opioids.
Common causes of this type of pain are:
- Injuries like cut, bruises, fractures or burns
- Mechanical stress like from poor posture
- Inflammation like arthritis and tendonitis
- Surgical incisions and procedures
Neuropathic Pain:
This type of pain arises from damage or dysfunction of the nervous system. It is characterised as a sharp, burning or stabbing pain, or feelings of numbness or tingling, often described as “pins and needles” . It can be difficult to manage as it normally does not respond well to painkillers.
Its effective management requires proper diagnosis and a personalized treatment plan. Some treatment options include physical therapies, medications and nerve blocks. If you wish to learn more about chronic pain management techniques, go through this well-curated blog.
Here are some common conditions that can cause neuropathic pain:
- Diabetic Neuropathy:
Diabetes is a condition which causes increased blood sugar levels. Prolonged increase of sugar levels in blood causes damage to nerves, which causes pain.
- Postherpetic Neuralgia:
It is a persistent nerve pain following a shingles infection.
- Sciatica:
It is a condition caused by compression of the sciatic nerve. It causes radiating pain down the legs.
- Injuries:
Trauma or injuries can affect or damage nerves and can cause neuropathic pain.
Neuropathic pain can also be divided into two groups, peripheral and central neuropathic pain.
- Peripheral Neuropathic Pain:
It is caused by damage to the peripheral nervous system. For example pain caused by diabetic neuropathy and postherpetic neuralgia.
- Central Neuropathic Pain:
It is caused by damage to the central nervous system. For example after cerebrovascular accidental.
Musculoskeletal Pain:
This type of pain arises from bones, muscles, joints or connective tissues. This pain can range from mild discomfort to severe debilitating pain.
Commonly this pain is caused by some injury, trauma or physical strain,or underlying medical condition.Its symptoms include deep aching pain localized to joints and muscles, muscle stiffness, spasm, or cramping.
Treatment options for this type of pain includes physiotherapy, lifestyle changes and medicines like anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants etc.
Some common causes of musculoskeletal pain are:
- Arthritis:
It is the chronic inflammation of joints, which causes swelling, stiffness and pain in joints.
- Fibromyalgia:
It is a generalised or widespread musculoskeletal pain that causes muscle fatigue and cognitive difficulties.
- Back Pain:
Chronic back pain can be caused due to poor posture, disc herniation, degenerative changes in spine or spinal abnormalities.
Inflammatory Pain:
This pain occurs due to injury, infection or chronic diseases, which trigger the immune system. Although inflammation is a natural reaction of our body, chronic inflammation can cause chronic pain and tissue damage.
It is characterised by swelling, warmth, redness, and discomfort in the affected area.
Treatment for this type of pain may include anti-inflammatory drugs, physical therapy and lifestyle modifications.
Common causes for inflammatory pain are:
- Auto-immune Diseases:
Auto-immune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, gout, lupus, and inflammatory bowel disease, can cause inflammatory pain in different areas of the body along with other symptoms.
- Infections:
Inflammation caused by bacterial,viral or fungal infection can cause localised or generalised pain.
Psychogenic Pain:
It is the type of pain that is caused by psychological factors like stress, anxiety, depression or post trauma. Despite the presence of any physical cause, this pain can be experienced by an individual and affect the quality of their life.
It can be persistent or intermittent and vary in intensity. It can occur anywhere in the body, commonly in the back, head or stomach.
Since this pain lacks a clear physiological cause, it requires a comprehensive evaluation along with ruling out other medical conditions.
Treatment options may include medicines like antidepressants and anxiolytics, stress reducing therapies, and psychotherapy.
Common psychological triggers for this pain include:
- Chronic stress
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Post traumatic stress disorder
Chronic pain is a complex condition that requires personalised care and treatment. Understanding the type of pain you are experiencing is the first step towards its effective management.
Are you struggling with any type of chronic pain and finding it difficult to attend work or school? You might need a sick note to officially communicate your absence. You can get a sick note online within minutes from an EU licensed doctor from the comfort of your home.