Chronic pain:Pain (an unpleasantsenseof discomfort) that persists or progresses over a long period of time.Incontrasttoacutepainthat arises suddenly in response to a specificinjuryand is usually treatable,chronic painpersists over time and is often resistant to medical treatments.
Chronicpain may be related to a number of different medical conditions including (but not limited to) diabetes, arthritis, migraine, fibromyalgia, cancer, shingles, sciatica, and previoustraumaor injury. Chronic pain may worsen in response to environmental and/or psychological factors.
There are a variety of treatment options for people with chronic pain. The goal of pain management is to providesymptomrelief and improve an individual's level of functioning in daily activities. A number of types of medications have been used in the management of chronic pain, includingacetaminophen,ibuprofen,aspirin,COX-2inhibitors, antimigraine medications, sedatives, opioids, andantidepressants. Nonpharmacologic treatments for chronic pain can include exercise,physical therapy, counseling, electrical stimulation,biofeedback, acupuncture,hypnosis,chiropracticmedicine, and other treatments.
