{"id":106,"date":"2023-11-06T13:37:58","date_gmt":"2023-11-06T13:37:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/flexiseq.com\/?p=106"},"modified":"2024-10-26T15:33:38","modified_gmt":"2024-10-26T15:33:38","slug":"understanding-chronic-pain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/flexiseq.com\/blogs\/expert-advice\/understanding-chronic-pain\/","title":{"rendered":"Understanding Chronic Pain"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Did you know that around 15.5 million people in England<\/a> are living with chronic pain? That\u2019s nearly 35% of the population. Chronic pain refers to persistent, recurrent pain which the person has been experiencing consistently for at least three months. <\/p>

Living with chronic pain can be debilitating and make it hard to carry out daily activities, and is additionally frustrating because it\u2019s an invisible condition. This means that others cannot see it from the outside, which can make it harder for people living with chronic pain to feel understood by those around them.<\/p>

\u201cArthritis pain is relentless,\u201d says Sarah Dillingham, CEO and Co-Founder of Grace & Able<\/a>, who has been living with rheumatoid arthritis for over 20 years. \u201cIt feels like my knees and wrists are being prised apart from the inside. I experience arthritis pain daily. A good day for me is a pain level of 2 out of 10, while a bad day can be an excruciating 8 or 9.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Flexi <\/a> <\/div>

What is the difference between acute and chronic pain? <\/h3> <\/div> <\/div>
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Chronic pain is persistent pain which has lasted for at least three months. Chronic pain is different from acute pain, which is pain that happens suddenly – as a result of injury, for example – and goes away when the body heals itself. Acute pain is a normal response to tissue damage or potential harm, and it often serves as a warning sign to alert you to notice the danger and do something about it. If you touch a hot stove, you will feel acute pain and quickly withdraw your hand. This pain helps you avoid further injury. The course of acute pain is usually identifiable and often doesn\u2019t last longer than a few days or weeks. Acute pain can turn into chronic pain if it persists after the body has healed.<\/p>

Chronic pain can sometimes indicate an underlying health condition, which may or may not be treatable. Examples of some of the causes of chronic pain include arthritis, fibromyalgia, migraine or cancer. Sometimes, chronic pain can occur without any apparent cause or trigger. If the source of the pain is understood, your doctor can help reduce or eliminate the cause directly. If it\u2019s unclear what is causing the pain, doctors may focus on the symptoms rather than the cause to help make the sensations more manageable. <\/p>

If you\u2019re not sure what is causing the pain, speak to your doctor so they can run some tests, rule out potential causes and hopefully find the root of the pain. It can be helpful to keep a pain diary so you can start to identify possible triggers.<\/p>

Arthritis is a common cause of chronic pain, which can affect anyone at any age, although certain types, like osteoarthritis, are typically associated with older people. \u201cArthritis is an umbrella term that covers over 100 different conditions linked by the common symptom of chronic joint pain, inflammation or damage in the joints that causes pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility,\u201d says Sarah Dillingham. <\/p>

There are many types of arthritis, such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, and psoriatic arthritis. Arthritis can affect any joint in the body, but it is most common in the hips, knees, hands, and spine.<\/p>\n<\/div> <\/div>

How is chronic pain diagnosed? <\/h3> <\/div> <\/div>
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Diagnosing chronic pain can be challenging, as it can be hard to identify the cause. Your doctor may ask you about your medical history, your symptoms, and how the pain affects your life. They may also perform a physical examination and order some tests to rule out other conditions or identify the underlying cause of the pain.<\/p>

It is important to describe your pain clearly and accurately to your doctor – including how it feels and where it is located in the body – as this can help them diagnose you more effectively. You may want to keep a pain diary where you record the following information:<\/p>