What is Chronic Pain?

Pain is usually a warning signal that something is wrong. But with chronic pain, the signals keep firing in the nervous system for weeks, months, or even years after the injury has healed.

Central Sensitization

One of the key mechanisms behind chronic pain is “central sensitization.” This means your central nervous system becomes hypersensitive. It’s like a volume knob that got stuck on “High.”

• Hyperalgesia: Increased sensitivity to things that are normally painful.
• Allodynia: Pain from stimuli that are not normally painful (like a light touch).

Managing the Condition

Management requires a multidisciplinary approach:

1. Physical Therapy: To safely move the body and retrain the brain.
2. CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy): To change the negative thought patterns that can worsen pain.
3. Medication Management: Using the right medications responsibly.

You are not alone. Millions suffer from chronic pain, and new research is constantly improving our understanding and treatment options.