chronic pain

Chronic pain

Pain that lasts beyond the term of an injury or painful stimulus. Can also refer to cancer pain, pain from a chronic or degenerative disease, and pain from an unidentified cause.

Mentioned in: Analgesics, Pain

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chronic pain,

pain that continues or recurs over a prolonged period, caused by various diseases or abnormal conditions. Chronic pain may be less intense than acute pain. The person with chronic pain does not usually display increased pulse and rapid respiration because these autonomic reactions to pain cannot be sustained for long periods. Some factors that can complicate the treatment of persons with chronic pain are scarring, continuing psychologic stress, and medication. Compare acute pain. See also pain; pain, chronic; pain intervention; pain mechanism.

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Patient discussion about chronic pain.

Q. What are the chances that chronic depression leads to schizophrenia? Someone close to me has been battling depression for 17 years now. She is doing a good job, has held on to a demanding job for 4 years now. Though her performance at work are highly erratic. Periods of poor apathetic performance interspersed with periods of high performance. She shows symptoms of chronic depression, withdraws from social life, has low energy, can spend days in bed, is messy etc. She's on medication too. I fear that the next phase will be schizophrenia

A. Depression doesn't lead to schizophrenia.It occurs if someone is genetically exposed to develope this disease (around 1% of the total population, or higher if someone in the family is schizophrenic). As opposed to the as many as 16% of the general population that experience a major depression episode.

Q. I've a chronic pain website & would love 2 get comments on how 2 make it better http://chronicpain.today.c

A. nice site! very useful! i liked the "freebies"...good idea. how about some links to videos about the subject? could be nice...

Q. Does anyone know how to relieve chronic back pain due to inflammation and arthritis? I have tried OTC arthritis pain meds they don't offer much relief for me. I have had surgery for herniated disc. My doctor says that there is a lot of inflammation and arthritis in my back. You can't get Vioxx anymore. Is there an alternative?

A. there also is a drug called diclofenac(cataflam) ask your DR.