Pain is defined as discomfort that we feel or feel after an injury. The feeling of pain varies from person to person. Pain can be divided into two types, acute pain and chronic pain.
Acute pain is the pain we feel when we get a finger pinched in the door. Acute pain serves as a warning to the body that we are in danger or that we have been beaten. They usually go away after a short time and traditional painkillers usually have a good effect against this type of pain.
Chronic pain is different. The pain is constant and long-lasting, and can last anywhere from a few months and in the worst case, they are lifelong. Unlike acute pain, which warns us of danger or that we are injured, chronic pain is more meaningless and gives us little useful information about our body. Traditional painkillers (Buy Oxycontin online)often have a poor or insufficient effect on chronic pain.
Chronic pain can be a very stressful condition, both physically and mentally. The condition often leads to low energy and surplus, which in turn leads to inactivity and reduced quality of life. It is estimated that chronic pain is the most common cause of disability and long-term sick leave in Norway. It is not uncommon to develop anxiety or depression as a result of chronic pain.
Are there different types of chronic pain?
It is common to divide chronic pain into three categories:
- Noseptic pain: Due to damage to body tissues, for example after an accident.
- Neuropathic pain: Caused by damage or disease of the nervous system.
- Idiopathic / compound pain: Mixture of both noseptic and neuropathic pain simultaneously. The cause is often unknown.
The most common chronic pain conditions occur in the skeleton and muscles, especially the back and neck. Noseptic pain is most common, accounting for approximately 90% of all chronic pain cases.
The cause of chronic pain
Why some people develop chronic pain and others are not uncertain, and in many cases the exact cause is unknown. Inheritance can play a role, and has been shown in studies to account for half the risk of developing a chronic pain condition. Other factors that increase the risk of getting chronic pain are heavy physical work and mental conditions such as anxiety and depression (buy Xanax for anxiety online).
Those who develop chronic pain usually do so after an injury to tissues and nerves, for example after an accident or surgery. Phantom pain as a result of amputation is also considered a type of chronic pain.
Many diseases can cause tissue / nerve damage, and thus lead to or aggravate chronic pain, including:
- Diabetes
- Arthritis
- Osteoarthritis (osteoarthritis)
- Multiple sclerosis
- Lyme disease
- HIV / AIDS
- Shingles
- Stroke
- Epilepsy
- Parkinson's disease .
- Various cancers
See Also: Interdisciplinary treatment of chronic pain
What are the symptoms of chronic pain?
The symptoms of chronic pain depend on the type of pain you are experiencing.
- Noseptic pain is pain we get when we cut ourselves on a knife or burn ourselves. We may also experience more diffuse pain, for example in a heart attack.
- Neuropathic pain often feels burning, icy, lightning and / or stinging. This type of pain often lasts longer than noseptic pain.
Chronic pain erodes the mood, and can lead to loss of zest for life, thoughts of disaster, anger, despair, as well as ailments such as depression and anxiety. Other problems that are often associated with chronic pain are sleep disorders and memory problems.
How common is chronic pain?
It is estimated that between 25-30% of adults in Norway live with chronic pain. The incidence increases with age, and women are more vulnerable than men. Chronic pain is more common among people with low income and education. Whether this is due to a higher workload or other socio-economic factors is not known for sure.
When should you contact a doctor?
- If you have pain that you do not know the cause of.
- If you have pain that lasts longer than expected
- If you feel both weak and prolonged pain. This may be a sign of another illness.
- If you have chronic pain and feel down.
Before the doctor's visit, you may want to keep a diary. Describe how the pain feels and where on the body it occurs.
Good advice for chronic pain
- Adapted physical activity is always beneficial, regardless of the pain condition.
- Heavy or monotonous physical exertion can aggravate many pain conditions. It is a good idea to ask the employer for customized work tasks.
- Relaxation techniques and stress management exercises are helpful for many.
Disease course in chronic pain
Chronic pain usually lasts for three months or more. In the worst case, they can last a lifetime. The course itself is usually very individual, and varies from person to person and what kind of pain threshold you have. Some have moderate pain that will eventually go away. Others experience very strong and disabling pain that comes even after light touch.
Treatment of chronic pain
Treatment of pain usually takes place in two ways. One tries to find the cause behind the pain, such as an underlying illness or injury, which is then treated. In addition, one tries to alleviate the pain with painkillers or other measures.
In chronic pain, it is unfortunately rare to find a clear cause behind the pain. The goal of treatment is therefore to reduce or relieve the pain if possible, and that one learns to cope with the pain and live with it. Other ailments, such as anxiety and depression , are also important to treat if you have chronic pain.
The treatment usually does not only include drugs alone. Treatments that are often used are physiotherapy and / or cognitive therapy to learn how to manage your pain. Adapted physical activity also plays an important role in the treatment of chronic pain. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TNS) and epidural spinal cord stimulation may be appropriate. Even though patients can buy OxyContin online, Or Buy Roxicodone online for chronic pain, there are alternatives to medications for chronic pain
Drug treatment
Chronic pain is usually attempted to be treated with medication. The treatment must be adapted to the individual, and the types of drugs used depend on the type of pain you have. Traditional painkillers such as opioids, NSAIDs and paracetamol can be used. These have unfortunately been limited to little effect in some types of pain, such as pain due to nerve damage. Traditional painkillers like , Tramadol, can cause side effects and habituation / loss of effect with long-term use, so it is often desirable to limit the use to bad periods if possible.
To treat neuropathic pain, drugs that work by attenuating nerve signals are mainly used. This includes medicines for epilepsy, depression and migraines.
