4 Common Types of Chronic Pain and the Best Form of Relief
February 17, 2023
Although it’s not fun to hurt, pain is your body’s way of showing that something has happened or that something is wrong. It’s also important to know that there are different forms of pain. Acute pain happens quickly and heals within a short amount of time, while chronic pain can be more serious because it lasts longer than a short time frame and can often be a sign of a more serious medical condition. Here are 4 of the most common types of chronic pain and the best form of relief for them all:
1. Chronic Back Pain
Research suggests that over 80% of people will experience chronic back pain at some point in their life. While it often occurs in the lower part of your back, you can experience it along any part of the spine. In many cases, this pain is due to some sort of lifting injury but can cause issues for years following the original injury. Some of the leading causes of chronic back pain include bulging discs, compression fractures, soft tissue damage, and spinal fractures. When you are dealing with lingering back pain, it’s best to go to the doctor to find the source and they can inform you of the best solution.
2. Chronic Joint Pain
While anyone can suffer from joint pain, this most commonly occurs among those who are advancing in age. The cause may be something simple, such as an injury to your wrist, ankle, or other joints. Research has shown that one of the leading causes of chronic joint pain is arthritis. Two of the most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis is most common in elderly patients and will usually affect the larger joints. On the other hand, rheumatoid arthritis is caused by an autoimmune disorder that causes swelling in the joint spaces. In most cases, taking an over-the-counter pain medication will help to relieve joint pains for a short period of time.
3. Chronic Headaches
Everyone wakes up occasionally with a headache, and it definitely puts a damper on your day. However, it’s important to know what qualifies this as one of the types of chronic pain. A chronic headache is one that occurs for at least 15 days out of the month for three consecutive months. Something you may not know is that there are many different forms of headaches. Two of the most prevalent types are tension headaches and migraines. In most cases, tension headaches are caused by things that are happening in your life, such as stress, fatigue, or lack of sleep. Migraines are a little more complicated as they are due to triggers in the central nervous system or hormonal irregularities. If you suffer from migraines, ask your doctor about different types of medication that can be prescribed for relief.
4. Chronic Nerve Pain
One of the most painful types of chronic pain is nerve pain. This normally happens when the nerves in your body are either compressed or damaged. While there is an abundance of forms of nerve pain, we are going to look specifically at carpal tunnel syndrome and diabetic neuropathy. If you are forced to do some type of repetitive motion with your hands, fingers, or wrists, you could be in danger of getting carpal tunnel. There are some medications that can relieve the pain and numbness, but there is also surgery that can be done to repair the nerves in the area. If you or someone you know is a diabetic, it’s important to follow the orders of the doctor to avoid diabetic neuropathy. This is a type of kidney disease that causes patients to lose feeling in the hands or feet.
At our pharmacies, we can help you find a way to relieve the types of chronic pain in your life. Learn more about our Indiana pharmacies to discover all the services that we offer to the community. We look forward to meeting with you!
