Chronic pain

Definition

Chronic pain is persistent pain lasting longer than three months or beyond the normal healing time. It can be continuous or intermittent and significantly impacts a person's quality of life.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Chronic pain is often treated with a combination of pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic strategies.
2. Common medications for chronic pain include NSAIDs, opioids, antidepressants, and anticonvulsants.
3. The management of chronic pain requires careful assessment to avoid the risk of medication dependence and adverse effects.
4. Patients with chronic pain may also benefit from physical therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and other integrative approaches.
5. Opioid use for chronic pain should be closely monitored due to the risk of addiction and overdose.

Review Questions

• What are some common medications used to treat chronic pain?
• Why is it important to assess patients carefully when managing chronic pain?
• What are some non-pharmacologic strategies that can help manage chronic pain?

Related terms

Analgesic: A drug that relieves pain without causing loss of consciousness.

Neuropathic Pain: Pain caused by damage or disease affecting the somatosensory nervous system.

Opioid: A class of drugs that includes both illegal drugs like heroin and prescription pain relievers such as morphine, codeine, oxycodone.