There are actually millions of people in the United States who suffer from what is known as chronic pain. This is a medical condition which is characterized by pain that persists for more than six months. The symptoms of can vary in severity from relatively mild all the way to excruciating. Some people must deal with their pain on a constant basis while others only experience episodic stretches of pain.

Long Lasting Pain

Why does the pain last for so long? Well, with chronic pain, the signals that originally produced the painful sensations can stay active in the nervous system for anywhere between weeks to even years. Unsurprisingly, the emotional and physical toll that this can take on an individual is quite substantial.

A person's chronic pain may have been the result of a prior injury, trauma, or infection, and there could also be some continuous source of pain for other patients. Then again, studies have shown that there are people dealing with chronic pain who had never experienced any prior injury or presented with any serious bodily damage.

Common Symptoms

The most common symptoms of chronic pain can include any of the following:

Pain that does not subside as one would expect following an injury or severe illness.
Pain that could be described as aching, burning, shooting, or even electrical.
Unrelenting soreness, discomfort, stiffness, or tightness.

The pain that is associated with this medical condition could lead to a number of other complications, such as:

Chronic fatigue, which could lead to additional motivation loss and impatience.
Sleeplessness, since the pain of this medical condition can make it very difficult to fall asleep, and it can wake some patients up during the night.
A loss of interest in some of your favorite activities, as well as a desire to rest more often than not.
An immune system that is constantly hampered due to the strain placed on the patient's body, which means that you may be prone to much more frequent infections and illness.
It is also quite common for people with this condition to experience bouts of depression, which can ironically cause the symptoms of their condition to become worse.
Chronic pain sufferers are prone to other alterations in mood as well. They may experience alternating bouts of fear, irritability, hopelessness, anxiety, and stress.
Chronic pain can be quite debilitating for some, leading to disability. Some patients are not able to go to school or work, and have difficulties completing other daily activities.

This medical condition cannot be treated without also accounting for the mind-body link that is characteristic of chronic pain. Thus, the most effective treatment for chronic pain must adequately address psychological factors in addition to the physical aspects of the condition.