What Causes Chronic Pain? 4 Reasons That May Shock You

Chronic pain is all-too-prevalent in the US.

As many as 50 million Americans aged over 18 suffer from it! That’s a shocking statistic. After all, this is a debilitating ailment that you wouldn’t wish on anybody.

In perpetual discomfort, the day to day life of someone with chronic pain can become a constant battle. But how does this horrible condition develop in the first place?

Want to find out? Keep reading to discover exactly what causes chronic pain.

1. Injury

Injuries are the most common antecedent of chronic pain.

The initial injury itself doesn’t matter either. One person could have a car accident, another may fall over at break their hip, someone else could cut themselves, and another might have suffered an infection. Any and all of these individuals could develop chronic pain.

How? Because something in their body continues to send pain signals to their brain. Even though the damage itself has (at a physiological level) healed, the brain continues to perceive pain nonetheless.

Think of it as a bad memory with very real effects. The injury continues to aggravate the individual- sometimes for no apparent reason.

2. Disease

Another common cause of chronic pain is disease-related. Everything from cancer and arthritis to fibromyalgia and multiple sclerosis are possible culprits.

Sadly, pain is a frequent side-effect of many diseases. In many cases, the longstanding nature of the pain is a result of the chronic nature of the illness.

For instance, osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage between bones in your joints begins to wear away. That, as you can imagine, can be hugely uncomfortable! Yet only by managing the disease can you hope to control the pain.

3. Negative Emotions

Negative emotions, such as anxiety, low mood, and depression, are known to interact with chronic pain at a causal level too. However, it’s chicken and egg stuff!

Studies have indeed shown that negative emotions can exacerbate pain symptomology. Yet chronic pain is a common (and understandable) cause of negative emotions as well. This particular puzzle requires further research to disentangle.

4. Psychosomatics

Any condition with no physiological cause is referred to as psychosomatic in nature. Or, to put it another way, ‘it’s all in your head’.

Chronic pain can, in some cases, fit that description. Insane as it sounds, there may be no obvious physical cause for the pain itself. In some people, their pain is wholly mental.

We should stress, though, that this in no way makes it any less legitimate.

In fact, it’s often even more of a curse. Imagine being told that your crippling pain isn’t ‘real’. It’s far harder to comprehend, explain away, and, ultimately, treat. Thankfully, the best pain management and therapy can still make a positive difference.

Now You Know What Causes Chronic Pain

Chronic pain affects tens of millions of Americans. Unfortunately, though, it’s a condition that remains both misunderstood and a challenge to treat.

Have you been wondering what causes chronic pain? We hope the information in this post has provided the answers you need! Want to read more articles like this one?

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