Chronic pain differs to sudden or acute pain and can be described as a sensitivity of the nervous system.
It’s also known as persistent pain since the pain persists beyond the expected healing time following an injury or illness – usually lasting longer than 12 weeks.
This can be due to changes in the body’s electrical wiring and brain pathways which detect and transmit pain signals. As a result, your body becomes more sensitive to pain and continues to send pain signals to your brain, even after the external painful stimuli has passed. The longer pain is left untreated, the higher the risk that your body will become sensitised to pain and that it will become chronic. So it’s essential to address acute pain quickly and effectively to prevent it transitioning to chronic pain. Seeking prompt advice from a healthcare professional can help at such times.
Chronic pain can occur in nearly any part of your body and may not feel the same in all areas or at different times. In some cases, chronic pain can be elusive to detect – the cause may show up on a scan or test, or there may be no physical explanation for its existence. Nevertheless, chronic pain can reduce and limit mobility, flexibility, strength and endurance, making it challenging to get through daily tasks and activities.
Persistent pain plagues our population
One in five Australians are reported to be living with chronic pain
54% are women and 46% are men
68% of those are of working age
Those over 65 years of age are twice as likely to be living with chronic pain
35% of children and teenagers are living with pain
The prevalence of chronic pain amongst Australians is estimated to double by 2050
Highway to the danger zone
Risk factors for chronic pain include:
Biological risk factors:
Previous injury
Surgery
Being overweight or obese
Being a woman
Older age
Genetics
Psychological risk factors:
Childhood trauma
Mood disorders
Lifestyle risk factors:
Stress
Smoking
Unhealthy diet
Sedentary lifestyle and prolonged sitting, especially at a computer
Having a high-risk job that involves heavy lifting or strenuous physical activity
High exposure to chemicals and pollution which can promote inflammation
Chronic conditions
Conditions that may involve chronic pain are best discussed with your healthcare professional. Conditions associated with chronic pain include:
Arthritis and joint pain
Lower back pain
Neuralgia and nerve pain
Pelvic pain
Sciatica
Migraines and headaches
Abdominal pain and IBS
Musculoskeletal aches and pains
Muscular spasms
Fibromyalgia
Persistent post-injury pain
Persistent post-surgical pain
Post-trauma pain
Psychogenic pain (pain that isn’t caused by disease, injury, or nerve damage)
Insights into inflammation
Like pain, inflammation is another of the body’s natural defence mechanisms, designed to help fight illness and protect you from further harm. It works by activating the immune system to help fight off infection, or in response to tissue damage. This generates the red, hot, swollen and sore area around wounds or injuries. Your body attempts to strengthen the area that’s under threat by calling in an influx of immune cells and fluid to the area, to fight foreign invaders and bolster your protection.
Inflammation is a necessary part of the healing process. It’s designed to die down and stop once the danger has passed. The immune cells switch from attack-mode to healing-mode. As signs of inflammation ease off, the tissue returns to normal.
When the body fails to switch off this inflammatory response and it becomes faulty, it can lead to chronic conditions. The immune system remains stuck on, continuing to release inflammatory molecules and, in some cases, damaging the body’s own cells even in the absence of a foreign threat. Inflammation continues and can be released at vulnerable sites such as the gut or joints.
In the modern world, inflammation triggers are everywhere, including environmental pollutants and daily stress. This keeps your immune system constantly armed and operating in a low-level state of inflammation. Whilst not exhibiting overt effects, this low-grade inflammation can complicate your internal environment which can potentially lead to more unpleasant conditions.
When pain persists
Chronic pain differs to sudden or acute pain and can be described as a sensitivity of the nervous system.
It’s also known as persistent pain since the pain persists beyond the expected healing time following an injury or illness – usually lasting longer than 12 weeks.
This can be due to changes in the body’s electrical wiring and brain pathways which detect and transmit pain signals. As a result, your body becomes more sensitive to pain and continues to send pain signals to your brain, even after the external painful stimuli has passed. The longer pain is left untreated, the higher the risk that your body will become sensitised to pain and that it will become chronic. So it’s essential to address acute pain quickly and effectively to prevent it transitioning to chronic pain. Seeking prompt advice from a healthcare professional can help at such times.
Chronic pain can occur in nearly any part of your body and may not feel the same in all areas or at different times. In some cases, chronic pain can be elusive to detect – the cause may show up on a scan or test, or there may be no physical explanation for its existence. Nevertheless, chronic pain can reduce and limit mobility, flexibility, strength and endurance, making it challenging to get through daily tasks and activities.
Persistent pain plagues our population
Highway to the danger zone
Risk factors for chronic pain include:
Biological risk factors:
Psychological risk factors:
Lifestyle risk factors:
Chronic conditions
Conditions that may involve chronic pain are best discussed with your healthcare professional. Conditions associated with chronic pain include:
Insights into inflammation
Like pain, inflammation is another of the body’s natural defence mechanisms, designed to help fight illness and protect you from further harm. It works by activating the immune system to help fight off infection, or in response to tissue damage. This generates the red, hot, swollen and sore area around wounds or injuries. Your body attempts to strengthen the area that’s under threat by calling in an influx of immune cells and fluid to the area, to fight foreign invaders and bolster your protection.
Inflammation is a necessary part of the healing process. It’s designed to die down and stop once the danger has passed. The immune cells switch from attack-mode to healing-mode. As signs of inflammation ease off, the tissue returns to normal.
When the body fails to switch off this inflammatory response and it becomes faulty, it can lead to chronic conditions. The immune system remains stuck on, continuing to release inflammatory molecules and, in some cases, damaging the body’s own cells even in the absence of a foreign threat. Inflammation continues and can be released at vulnerable sites such as the gut or joints.
In the modern world, inflammation triggers are everywhere, including environmental pollutants and daily stress. This keeps your immune system constantly armed and operating in a low-level state of inflammation. Whilst not exhibiting overt effects, this low-grade inflammation can complicate your internal environment which can potentially lead to more unpleasant conditions.