It is estimated that as many as 50 million adults in the United States suffer from chronic pain. This has a major impact on people's quality of life and the economy as a whole (causing $80 billion in lost wages each year).

Pain is a normal reaction that we experience following illness or injury and indicates to us that something is wrong. The pain usually goes away once we are healed. However, in the case of chronic pain, the pain continues for months—even indefinitely—after the cause of the pain is gone.

Chronic pain syndrome can make it difficult or impossible for people to perform regular daily tasks and their favorite activities, such as exercising. It can also lead to symptoms that go behind pain, such as anxiety and depression. These conditions can further interfere with people's daily lives.

With focused chronic pain management, it is possible to overcome the symptoms of chronic pain and address its causes. There is a wide range of options available for managing pain, which we will highlight in this blog post. We will also look at the causes and symptoms of chronic pain, which are vital to understanding when seeking a lasting solution.

What Are the Causes of Chronic Pain Syndrome?

The reality is that we don't fully understand what causes chronic pain, though we know that it usually starts with a painful condition or injury. Some of the known causes of chronic pain include:

• Back pain
• Joint problems such as arthritis
• Muscle sprains and strains
• Headaches
• Fibromyalgia
• Repetitive stress injuries
• Lyme disease
• Nerve damage
• Cancer
• Broken bones
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Acid reflux
• Endometriosis
• Postsurgical pain

There are different theories around the exact cause of chronic pain syndrome.

Some medical professionals, for example, believe that those who suffer from chronic pain have a problem with their nervous and endocrine systems, which the body uses to manage stress. Therefore, these people experience pain differently.

One argument is that chronic pain is a "learned response" that continues even after the pain has subsided.

in terms of risk factors, research has shown that some people are more susceptible to chronic pain than others. For example, these include people with painful conditions such as arthritis; people who are depressed; those who smoke and/or are obese; and those who are more than 65 years of age. Women are also more more likely to experience chronic pain than men.

What Are the Symptoms of Chronic Pain Syndrome?

Let's now take a closer look at some of the most common symptoms of chronic pain, which are both physical and mental.

• Muscle aches
• Joint pain
• Fatigue
• Burning pain
• Mood problems (including anxiety and depression)
• Sleep problems
• Alcohol and/or drug abuse
• Job loss
• Loss of interest in sex
• Marriage and/or family problems

How to Manage Chronic Pain

Here at Colorado Pain Experts, we are your No. 1 source for effective pain management treatment and education. Our board-certified professionals will diagnose your chronic pain condition and put together a fully personalized treatment plan to help you overcome chronic pain in the safest way possible.

We know that there is no "one size fits all" solution to chronic pain and every individual will have a different range of symptoms and, behind that, causes. Therefore, we take a detailed look at your situation before preparing any treatment plans.

This includes reviewing personal histories or injuries and surgeries and conducting tests on biomechanics. Once we have determined the proper diagnosis, we will prescribe an effective treatment plan, one that is backed by best practices and scientific evidence.

We combine a range of treatment options when dealing with pain. These include:

• Physical therapy
• Chiropractic care
• Interventional pain management
• Medications

Let's take a closer look at each of these.

Physical Therapy

Depending on the diagnosis, physical therapy can be an effective treatment option for individuals with chronic pain. It can increase an individual's strength, flexibility, and range of motion. Examples of physical therapy include low-impact aerobic training, massage, pain relief exercises, strengthening exercises, stretching, and ultrasound.

Chiropractic Care

Through a range of treatments such as spinal manipulation, chiropractic care is effective at addressing chronic pain symptoms, including muscle tension and inflammation. Other treatment options include spinal decompression and the activator method.

Interventional Pain Management

Interventional pain management helps to manage pain and includes injections and radiofrequency rhizotomy to address the source of the pain. Treatment options here include facet joint injection, epidural steroid injections, radiofrequency ablation, trigger point injections, and more.

Medications

We work with patients with medication management to help deal with the symptoms of chronic pain. Medication can form an effective part of an overall treatment plan.

Your Guide to Chronic Pain Management

In this blog post, we have outlined the causes and symptoms of chronic pain and its effect on individuals' everyday lives. We have also highlighted the available treatment options for overcoming chronic pain, including the detailed approach that our team at Colorado Pain Experts takes.

Our professional and experienced team treats all types of chronic and acute pain. Our goal is to uncover the initial cause of the pain and stop the pain in its tracks.

Chronic pain can be successfully managed, and effective treatment allows people to live a pain-free life where they are able to perform their favorite activities. If you suffer from chronic pain, we are here to help in Colorado. Contact us today to schedule an appointment and start relieving pain now with chronic pain management.