Chronic Pain - What Increases Your Risk
Factors that may increase the risk of chronic pain include:
- Aging. Older adults are more likely to suffer from chronic conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, shingles, and other causes of nerve problems (neuropathy). But chronic pain is not a normal part of growing older.
- Smoking. Nicotine use can increase pain and decrease the effectiveness of medicines.
- Health problems. These include:
- Existing health conditions, such as fibromyalgia, shingles, arthritis, depression or anxiety disorders, or having a limb amputated (phantom limb pain).
- Past health problems, such as joint injuries. Also, previous surgery may cause new pain or may not work to relieve pain (such as back surgery that does not relieve pain).
- Overall general health condition. You may have a weakened immune system, which can lead to frequent infections or illness.
- Conditions that are difficult to treat, such as nerve pain from shingles (postherpetic neuralgia).
- Lifestyle, such as not eating healthy foods, not exercising regularly, smoking, or having a substance abuse or alcohol dependency problem.
Other factors that may increase your risk for chronic pain include stress, relationship problems, or a history of physical, sexual, or emotional abuse.
The bladder is the hollow organ in the lower abdomen that stores urine. As the bladder fills, muscles in its walls relax so that it can expand. As the bladder empties during urination, the muscles contract to squeeze the urine out through the urethra. Several different bladder problems can cause pain. This article will cover three of the most common causes of bladder pain: interstitial cystitis, urinary tract infection, and bladder cancer.
Read the Bladder Pain article > >
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