What Causes Chronic Pain?

Chronic pain is usually caused by an initial injury, such as a back sprain or pulled muscle. It’s believed that chronic pain develops after nerves become damaged. The nerve damage makes pain more intense and long lasting. In these cases, treating the underlying injury may not resolve the chronic pain.

In some cases, however, people experience chronic pain without any prior injury. The exact causes of chronic pain without injury aren’t well understood. The pain may sometimes result from an underlying health condition, such as:

• chronic fatigue syndrome: characterized by extreme, prolonged weariness that’s often accompanied by pain

• endometriosis: a painful disorder that occurs when the uterine lining grows outside of the uterus

• fibromyalgia: widespread pain in the bones and muscles

• inflammatory bowel disease: a group of conditions that causes painful, chronic inflammation in the digestive tract

• interstitial cystitis: a chronic disorder marked by bladder pressure and pain

• temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ): a condition that causes painful clicking, popping, or locking of the jaw

• vulvodynia: chronic vulva pain that occurs with no obvious cause

Who is at risk for chronic pain?

Chronic pain can affect people of all ages, but it’s most common in older adults. Besides age, other factors that can increase your risk of developing chronic pain include:

• having an injury

• having surgery

• being female

• being overweight or obese

Physical pain is related to emotional pain, so chronic pain can increase your stress levels. Building emotional skills can help you cope with any stress related to your condition. Here are some steps you can take to reduce stress:

Take good care of your body: Eating well, getting enough sleep, and exercising regularly can keep your body healthy and reduce feelings of stress.