Chronic pain
Chronic pain is pain that continues for 3 months or longer. Chronic pain may be triggered by a disease or injury, or the cause may not be clear.
Symptoms may include:
- Mild to severe pain that does not go away as expected.
- Pain that may be described as shooting, burning, aching, or electrical.
- Discomfort, soreness, tightness, or stiffness.
Treatment usually includes behavioral therapy and a combination of medications (such as pain relievers or antidepressants), physical therapy, and exercise. Complementary therapies such as acupuncture, massage, or yoga also may be used to treat chronic pain.
| Author | Shannon Erstad, MBA/MPH |
| Editor | Kathleen M. Ariss, MS |
| Associate Editor | Pat Truman |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Nancy Greenwald, MD - Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation |
| Last Updated | February 22, 2007 |
WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise
Last Updated:
February 22, 2007
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