At Evexia Wellness Center, we understand the debilitating effects of chronic pain. Chronic pain is defined as pain that lasts three months or longer and persists after treatments. It can affect every aspect of a person’s life, from their physical abilities to their mental well-being. Chronic pain is very common, as approximately 25 percent of adults in the United States experience chronic pain.
Pain is a common experience that we have all felt at some point in our lives – whether it is the result of an injury, surgery, or underlying health condition. But not all pain is created equal. For some people, pain can become a lingering presence in their lives, lasting for weeks, months, or even years. So, how do you tell if your pain is acute or chronic? Let’s find out.
You slipped and fell at work a few years back, severely breaking your leg. You underwent surgery for bone fracture repair, and although your leg healed and you can now walk, you’re stuck with a dull, aching pain at the site of the fracture.
Pain isn’t funny. Whether it’s physical or psychological, short-term or chronic pain exacts a heavy price and can strike at any time. If you’ve ever experienced chronic pain before, you know how difficult it is to handle, but if you’ve never had it, how do you know what to say to someone who deals with pain every day?
You broke your ankle years ago and seemed to recover nicely. You’ve had no intervening accidents and illnesses that you can recall, but you’ve been experiencing non-specific discomfort for several months. Your lower back and knees hurt, often most of the day, every day. You may be experiencing chronic pain.
You get depressed occasionally and often notice you have headaches and minor back pain to go along with it. So it makes you wonder – are they related? Chances are very high that pain and depression are linked, but the more you know, the greater your chance of treating both conditions.
You banged your knee on the corner of the kitchen table, but the pain went away, eventually. That was acute pain, specific and with a known cause. But what about your lower back pain that’s haunted you for years? What caused it? These are the enduring mysteries of chronic pain.
Back pain can be considered chronic if it lasts for at least three months, per Johns Hopkins Medicine. It is the leading cause of disability worldwide and is one of the most common reasons people seek medical treatment or miss work.