Chronic pain is defined as pain that persists for longer than 3 months, and it can have a variety of causes. There are many causes of chronic pain. It may have started from an illness or injury, from which you may have long since recovered from, but pain remained. Or there may be an ongoing cause of pain, such as arthritis or cancer. Many people suffer chronic pain in the absence of any past injury or evidence of illness.
Some of the most common causes of chronic pain include:
- Arthritis: Inflammation of the joints can cause chronic pain, especially in older adults.
- Back problems: Injuries, degeneration, or structural issues of the spine can lead to chronic pain in the back.
- Nerve damage: Chronic pain can be caused by nerve damage due to conditions such as diabetes, shingles, or multiple sclerosis.
- Fibromyalgia: A condition characterized by widespread pain, tenderness and stiffness in the muscles, tendons and joints.
- Migraine headaches: Recurrent headaches can cause chronic pain.
- Cancer: Chronic pain can be caused by cancer or its treatment, such as surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.
- Chronic fatigue syndrome: A condition that causes fatigue, pain, and other symptoms.
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): People with PTSD may experience chronic pain as a symptom.
- Psychological factors: Chronic pain can be caused by psychological factors such as depression, anxiety, and stress.
- Endometriosis: a painful disorder that occurs when the uterine lining grows outside of the uterus
- Inflammatory bowel disease: a group of conditions that causes painful, chronic inflammation in the digestive tract
- Interstitial cystitis: a chronic disorder marked by bladder pressure and pain
- Temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ): a condition that causes painful clicking, popping, or locking of the jaw
- vulvodynia: chronic vulva pain that occurs with no obvious cause
Chronic pain can affect people of all ages, but it’s most common in older adults. Besides age, other factors that can increase your risk of developing chronic pain include:
- having an injury
- having surgery
- being female
- being overweight or obese
It’s worth noting that, sometimes the cause of chronic pain is unknown, and it can be caused by multiple factors, such as a combination of physical and psychological causes. Additionally, chronic pain can have a significant impact on a person’s physical, emotional, and social well-being, so it’s important to work with a healthcare provider to find the best treatment options.