Just about everyone feels pain from time to time. When you strain your back, pain is your body’s way of telling you something is not quite right. Then once it heals, the pain stops. Chronic pain is different. Your body keeps hurting weeks, months, or even years after the injury. Doctors often define chronic pain as any pain that lasts for 3 to 6 months or more and can negatively affect your day-to-day life and mental health.
Chronic pain may arise from an initial injury or an ongoing cause such as illness. There may also be no clear cause – yet the pain just won’t go away. Other health problems such as fatigue, inability to sleep through the night, loss of appetite, and mood swings often accompany chronic pain. Chronic pain may also limit movement which can reduce flexibility, strength, and stamina.
If you develop chronic pain, it’s crucial that you seek specialty medical help and get a proper diagnosis. At OrthoNOW, our on-site clinicians will work with you to identify the causes and symptoms of your pain and provide effective treatments and management strategies to help maintain your quality of life.
