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More about Arthritis/Inflammation/Fibromyalgia/Chronic Pain

Most pain subsides after an injury heals or an illness runs its course. But with chronic pain syndrome, pain can last for months and even years after the body heals. It can even occur when there’s no known trigger for the pain. According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative HealthTrusted Source, chronic pain is defined as lasting anywhere from 3 to 6 months, and it affects some 25 million Americans. Chronic pain syndrome vs. fibromyalgia: While chronic pain syndrome and fibromyalgia often coexist, they are two different disorders. Chronic pain syndrome often has an identifiable trigger, such as arthritis or injury from a broken bone that doesn’t heal properly. Fibromyalgia — a disorder of the nervous system characterized by muscle and joint pain and fatigue — often arises without a known cause. If you looked at an X-ray, you wouldn’t find tissue or nerve damage. Fibromyalgia does, however, impact the way nerves sense and relay pain messages. Even when treated, the pain of fibromyalgia can still be chronic (thus leading to chronic pain syndrome).

Causes

Conditions that cause widespread and long-lasting pain are, not surprisingly, often linked to chronic pain syndrome. Some of these conditions include: Osteoarthritis – This type of arthritis is generally the result of wear and tear on the body and occurs when the protective cartilage between bones wears away. Rheumatoid arthritis – This is an autoimmune disease that causes painful inflammation in the joints. Back pain – This pain may stem from muscle strains, nerve compression, or arthritis of the spine (called spinal stenosis). Fibromyalgia – This is a neurological condition that causes pain and tenderness in various parts of the body (known as trigger points). Inflammatory bowel disease – This condition causes chronic inflammation of the digestive tract and can produce intestinal pain and cramping. Surgical trauma. Advanced cancer. Even when these conditions improve (via medications or therapies), some people can still experience chronic pain. This type of pain is generally caused by a miscommunication between the brain and nervous system. (For unexplained reasons, some people can encounter this kind of pain without any known triggers.)

Symptoms

Chronic pain syndrome takes a toll on both your physical and mental health. While the pain can be near-constant, there may be flares of more intense pain due to increases in stress or activity. Symptoms include: Joint pain; Muscle aches; Burning pain; Fatigue; Sleep problems; Loss of stamina and flexibility, due to decreased activity; Mood problems, including depression, anxiety, and irritability. In one study published in the journal Pain, 60.8 percentTrusted Source of the subjects who reported chronic pain also had depression, most of them with “severe” level symptoms.

Treatments

Chris: Compile relevant holistic treatments

Articles and Blog Posts about Arthritis/Inflammation/Fibromyalgia/Chronic Pain