Chronic pain is pain that lasts for more than a month or two, or pain that persists even after an injury heals. Though there are many causes of chronic pain, usually this type of pain suggests that there is an underlying problem that needs to be addressed. When chronic pain is unable to be managed, this can lead to severe effects on well-being and day-to-day life. Understanding the common types of chronic pain and their causes is the first step in identifying the problem.
Nociceptive Pain
This is pain caused by damage to body tissue, either by injury or disease, and experienced as a sharp, aching, or throbbing sensation. Nociceptive pain is often experienced with cancer patients, resulting from cancer cells hitting other parts of the body, or from the cancer spreading to bones, muscles, or joints. Cancer cells blocking organs or blood vessels can also cause nociceptive pain. Main types of nociceptive pain include somatic and visceral pain.
Somatic Pain
Somatic pain is a type of nociceptive pain that result from injuries to the outer body like the muscles, bones, or joints. Pain is experienced when sensory nerves in the damaged area send messages to the brain, and therefore, it is easy to identify where the pain originates. Somatic pain is often experienced as sharp or throbbing, and includes tension headaches, pelvic pain, arthritis, and back pain.
Visceral Pain
Visceral pain is also a type of nociceptive pain. Viscera means internal organs, therefore this type of pain is caused by damage to organs like your stomach, abdomen, or chest cavity. However, not all organs have sensory nerves and even when they do the nerves are often widespread, making the experience more of a dull pain. Therefore, it is difficult to determine the origin of this type of pain. Visceral pain includes irritable bowel syndrome, bladder pain and prostate pain.
Neuropathic Pain
In contrast to nociceptive pain, neuropathic pain results from damage to the nervous system, which can be caused by poor nutrition, alcoholism, infections, or auto-immunity. Neuropathic pain can be experienced in cancer patients when cancer cells or tumors press into nerves and damage them. Examples of neuropathic pain include shingles, phantom limb, sciatica, and painful scars. Usually, this pain is felt as a heavy burning, stabbing, or shooting sensation. Two main types of neuropathic pain include psychogenic and idiopathic pain.
Psychogenic Pain
Psychogenic pain is a type of neuropathic pain caused by psychological disorders like depression or anxiety, and is experienced when these mental or emotional problems cause, increase, or prolong pain. This type of pain can be experienced as fatigue, headaches, back pain, stomach pain, or muscle aches. Determining the origin of this type of pain is very difficult, and is only diagnosed when other forms of pain are ruled out.
Idiopathic Pain
Idiopathic pain is a type of neuropathic pain that exists when the cause of the pain is unknown. This type of pain can manifest in many ways, and is very difficult to treat. Often, idiopathic pain occurs when someone has a pre-existing condition like fibromyalgia syndrome or multiple sclerosis.
Fortunately, many types of chronic pain can be managed using natural remedies. If you are experiencing chronic pain and looking for natural pain relief in Kennesaw, GA, contact your local pharmacy.
