Types of Chronic Pain

30-Second Blog Snapshot:

  • Patients experiencing symptoms such as shooting, burning, or aching pain that lasts more than six weeks may have chronic pain.
  • Although patients may feel relieved to have some kind of diagnosis, the journey is not over; chronic pain can mean a number of different things and manifest in a variety of ways.
  • The pain management specialists at Southwest Spine and Pain Center take the guesswork out of chronic pain and explain the different types of pain patients may be experiencing.

The general definition of chronic pain is pain that can be described as shooting, aching, or burning; pain that does not go away after an illness, injury, or surgical procedure; pain that lasts longer than six weeks. If you personally fit into all three categories, you may be suffering from chronic pain. But wait; most patients beginning their pain journey don’t realize there are different types of pain too.

Generally speaking, pain often falls into two different categories: nociceptive and neuropathic. Nociceptive pain is pain that is caused by damaged tissue. It may develop after a tumor or have no origin whatsoever. This type of pain is often described as a dull ache or a throbbing, burning pain. Neuropathic pain, other the other hand, is pain that occurs from nerve damage.

There are a number of lifestyle choices and traumas that can put a person at risk of developing neuropathic pain. Infections, toxic chemicals, alcoholism, surgical procedures, and more can lead to neuropathic pain conditions such as Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), diabetic neuropathy, and peripheral neuropathy. This pain is often described as sharp, electrical, or sensitive.

Then there’s fibromyalgia. A chronic pain condition that causes musculoskeletal pain in addition to fatigue, brain fog, and depression. Unfortunately, there is no cure for any of these conditions. Fortunately, there are ways patients can manage their symptoms. Depending on the type of pain and the patient’s symptoms, a Southwest Spine and Pain Center physician may recommend the following treatments:

  • Steroid injections
  • Pain medication
  • Behavioral medicine
  • Minimally invasive surgery
  • Nerve blocks
  • And more!

If chronic pain is impacting your life, don't wait to schedule an appointment at Southwest Spine and Pain Center. With multiple locations across the state of Utah, the pain management specialists at Southwest Spine and Pain Center are dedicated to helping those who suffer from chronic pain live the life they want to! To schedule an appointment, visit our locations tab!

The advice and information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace or counter a physician’s advice or judgment. Please always consult your physician before taking any advice learned here or in any other educational medical material.