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What is Chronic Pain?

Physician holding a spine model

Pain that persists for more than three to six months is considered chronic pain. While acute pain from an injury typically subsides after a period of healing, chronic pain persists. When pain is perceived in the nerves, pain signals are sent to the brain, and over time the effect of continuous or chronic pain takes a toll on your physical, mental, and emotional health.

People with chronic pain tend to experience these conditions:

  • Anxiety
  • Arthritis
  • Chronic fatigue syndrome
  • Depression
  • Endometriosis
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Migraine headaches
  • Inflammatory bowel disease
  • Interstitial cystitis
  • Low back pain
  • Neuropathy
  • Sleep disorders
  • Stress
  • Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder
  • Vulvodynia
  • Weakness
It’s Important to Have Chronic Pain Treated

An estimated 20 million Americans suffer from migraine headaches. Some 70 million are afflicted with back pain. Up to 50 million endure the distress of arthritis. Chronic pain costs public and private concerns in the United States as much as $70 billion a year. Awareness about chronic pain has increased dramatically in recent years.

It is vital for your wellbeing to seek treatment for pain that does not get better or go away within a reasonable amount of time. The longer you suffer from chronic pain, the harder it is to treat. When you are in pain, you may also experience tiredness, depression, stress, loneliness, anger, and anxiety. But when your pain is relieved, you can sleep and eat better and enjoy life because you are less stressed and feeling good.

Don’t be afraid to tell someone if you are in pain. Even if the pain seems tolerable, if it doesn’t go away after several months, you should see a pain specialist. Call (855) 876-7246 for an experienced pain management doctor in Texas or use our online appointment request form.