+1-617-394-8820 contact@baybiosciences.com

Chronic Pain Syndrome

by | Feb 13, 2024 | Info | 0 comments

Chronic Pain Syndrome Overview

Chronic pain is pain that lasts more 3 months or longer. Pain is an inevitable part of life because it is the body’s natural reaction to injuries, infections, and illnesses. The unpleasant sensation indicates that something is wrong.

Typically, pain goes away once the body restores its usual, healthy state. However, some individuals continue to experience pain after its original cause has resolved. If this pain lasts for more than 3 months, doctors call it chronic pain.

Around 25.3 million adults in the United States live with chronic pain every day, which affects their emotional and physical health. In addition, chronic pain can cause complications such as trouble sleeping, stress, anxiety, and depression.

Doctors may find chronic pain syndrome challenging to treat, but it is possible. A combination of medications, counseling, and other therapies can help relieve pain and ease complications.

Causes of Chronic Pain Syndrome

Doctors are unsure why some individuals develop chronic pain syndrome after certain injuries and illnesses. However, generally, the syndrome follows an initial painful condition, such as:

When the initial condition improves through medications or other therapies, for most people, the pain stops. However, some individuals continue to experience chronic pain. Doctors believe the reason for this may be that nerve cells in the brain, responsible for the transmission and processing of sensory information, become hypersensitive to pain signals.

For example, around 20% of patients with osteoarthritis who undergo total knee replacement surgery still experience chronic pain. The surgery should correct painful knee joint problems, yet this is not true for everyone.

Although anyone can experience chronic pain, it is more common among female patients and individuals with disabilities. Depression, anxiety, and substance dependency may also play a role.

Symptoms of Chronic Pain Syndrome

Chronic pain syndrome is both emotionally and physically stressful. Some individuals may experience constant pain, while others experience flares of intense pain, which subsides to lesser pain.

One 2016 study found that almost 61% of people with chronic pain also had depression.

Other symptoms may include:

  • Anxiety
  • Discomfort
  • Fatigue
  • Irritability
  • Joint pain
  • Sleep problems
  • Suicidal thoughts

The emotional toll of chronic pain can negatively affect an individual’s relationships, education, or work.

Treatment of Chronic Pain Syndrome

Chronic pain often requires other treatments besides medication. Firstly, doctors may recommend pain-relieving medication, including anti-inflammatories and muscle relaxants. They may also prescribe antidepressants to reduce pain signals, such as:

  • Gabapentinoids
  • Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
  • Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor
  • Tricyclics

People may also require physical therapy. This treatment approach helps manage pain and improve movement problems that may impact an individual’s daily life.

Additionally, people may benefit from cognitive behavioral therapy to help reframe any negative thought patterns. Research shows that this form of talk therapy may be valuable for some individuals with chronic pain.

Individuals may also find relief from chronic pain through alternative therapies such as acupuncture. Although research states this technique yields mixed results, acupuncture may provide relief for some individuals, particularly those who do not respond to standard treatments.

Chronic Pain Syndrome Associated Conditions

Various conditions can cause chronic pain, including those that lead to nerve pain. Some of these include:

  • Central pain syndrome (CPS): CPS may arise following a spinal injury and damage to the central nervous system. Symptoms include pain, itching, numbness, and loss of sensation. Individuals with CPS may become extremely sensitive to pain.
  • Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS): This is an umbrella term to describe excess and chronic pain and inflammation following a limb injury. Typically, CRPS improves over time before resolving, but in rare instances, people may experience severe and prolonged cases.
  • Phantom limb pain: If an individual has a limb amputated, they may still experience ongoing pain that seems to come from the limb that is no longer there. Phantom limb pain can feel like burning, itching, or pressure that lasts from seconds to days.
  • Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN): This complication of shingles can cause severe and debilitating pain for months or years after the rash subsides. Up to 18% of individuals who have shingles also experience PHN. 
  • Trigeminal neuralgia: Also called “tic douloureux,” this condition causes excruciating pain, usually to the lower face and lower jaw. Symptoms include intense, electric shock-like pain due to irritation of the trigeminal nerve. Unfortunately, doctors cannot always cure the condition.


Chronic Pain Syndrome vs Fibromyalgia

Chronic pain syndrome and fibromyalgia are two different conditions, but it is possible to have both simultaneously.

Doctors do not know what causes fibromyalgia, a condition that experts characterize by widespread pain, sleep issues, irritable bowel issues, fatigue, and emotional and mental health issues. People with fibromyalgia may have increased sensitivity to pain, which healthcare professionals call abnormal pain perception processing.

It seems that while fibromyalgia may suddenly arise with no cause, chronic pain syndrome usually has an identifiable trigger, such as an injury or arthritis. However, fibromyalgia itself can lead to chronic pain syndrome.

How do you deal with severe chronic pain?

Treatment for severe chronic pain will depend on its cause. However, treatment options include the following:

  • Antidepressants
  • CBT
  • Muscle relaxants
  • Pain relievers, including NSAIDs
  • Physical therapy

What is the most common type of chronic pain?

There are many causes of chronic pain. It can follow a short-term injury or illness without a clear explanation but is more commonly a result of an underlying chronic condition such as:


Prevalence of Chronic Pain

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around 20% of adults in the United States had chronic pain in 2016, while 8% had high-impact chronic pain.

The 2017 Global Burden of Disease Study estimates that pain and diseases related to pain are the leading cause of disability worldwide, and the amount of people living with chronic pain is increasing.

Chronic pain has associations with numerous physical and mental health conditions, including:

  • Depression
  • Sleep problems
  • Social isolation
  • Overuse of medication


Management of Chronic Pain

Pain management refers to techniques to reduce and control the amount of pain a person experiences over the long term.

There are many ways to manage pain, and not all of them include taking medication.

Physical Techniques

Various physical methods can help relieve pain, including physical therapy, hot and cold therapy, massage, and acupuncture.

Hot and Cold Therapy

Hot and cold therapy is a common and safe technique to reduce pain.

Heat can help relax the muscles and dilate the blood vessels. It can also promote healing after an injury.

Cold therapy reduces blood flow and reduces inflammation that causes pain. It often involves applying an ice pack wrapped in a towel to the skin.

Massage

Massage is a type of soft-tissue manipulation. People may benefit from this technique when used with other pain management treatments, such as physical therapy and pain medication.

The benefits of massage include:

  • Increased flexibility
  • Relaxation
  • Improved posture
  • Reduced inflammation
  • Improved circulation
  • Reduced stiffness

A 2007 review on massage found that it may be effective for lower back pain. However, there is mixed evidence from examining its benefits for other chronic pain types.


Mind-Body Techniques

Methods that combine psychology and the body can help many people manage chronic pain.

Cognitive Behavior Therapy

Psychological treatments for chronic pain include talking therapies, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

Psychological treatments aim to reduce the negative impact that chronic pain can have on a person’s mental health.

A 2013 review on the effectiveness of psychological pain management techniques concludes that CBT is effective at reducing pain immediately after treatment compared with using no strategies.

The review also found that there was no evidence that CBT can reduce long-term pain. However, the technique was useful for reducing anxiety around pain and for improving quality of life.

Yoga

Yoga aims to relax, strengthen, and keep the body flexible through stretching, with specific poses focusing on particular body areas.

A 2010 study into yoga’s effects on chronic pain found that it did not decrease participants’ pain, but it did help them cope, and they were more in control of how their pain affected their everyday life.

However, other studies have found yoga to be effective in reducing pain.

Yoga is a safe and accessible pain management technique that people can try at home, using online videos, or in a class with an instructor.

Tai Chi

Tai Chi is an exercise therapy involving slow, continuous, fluid body movements combined with breathing and relaxation techniques. The method is also gentle on the joints and muscles.

Tai chi can improve strength and joint stability, and the concentration it requires can improve a person’s mood.

According to a 2016 review, there is some evidence that the technique could help with chronic pain. It states that people using tai chi experienced improvements in chronic pain from rheumatoid arthritis (RA), lower back pain, and osteoporosis.

Relaxation Techniques

Dealing with chronic pain can be stressful for many reasons, such as not feeling in control regarding a person’s discomfort.

Relaxation techniques can help ease muscle tension, muscle spasms, aches, and pains. They can also release endorphins, which are the body’s natural painkillers.

A person can help reduce stress through relaxation, which can ease some of the burden of chronic pain while promoting better sleep.

Relaxation methods for chronic pain include:

  • Deep breathing techniques: Slow and relaxed breathing methods, such as box breathing, help relieve tension.
  • Progressive muscle relaxation: Involves tensing and relaxing each muscle group in turn, for 10 seconds each, from the head to the toes. Focus on breathing and avoid muscles that feel painful.
  • Thinking calmly: Spend 5 minutes imagining a calming scene, such as a sunny afternoon in nature, surrounded by green trees and birdsong.
  • Calming activities: Set aside time for relaxing activities such as having a warm bath, reading a book, or crafting.


Drug Therapy

There is a wide range of medications to relieve pain. Each class and type of drug work differently, while some may be more suitable for certain people than others.

Antidepressants

Some antidepressants, such as amitriptyline, can help with pain relief.

Amitriptyline is an antidepressant that, at lower doses, people also use for chronic pain, such as diabetic neuropathy and fibromyalgia.

It can take 2–4 weeks for a person to feel the effects of the medication.

Side effects of amitriptyline can include:


Beta-blockers

Beta-blockers slow down the heart and stop hormones, such as adrenaline, from working. Some people use them to treat migraines.

A study shows that beta-blockers at low doses can temporarily improve chronic pain in females with fibromyalgia and temporomandibular syndrome.

However, beta-blockers may not be suitable for everyone. Consult with a doctor before using them for chronic pain.

Cannabis

Medicinal cannabis and cannabidiol (CBD) are increasingly common pain treatments.

A 2017 review states that cannabis may ease neuropathic pain, but not pain due to fibromyalgia, headaches, or rheumatoid arthritis.

In addition, cannabis for medicinal purposes may not be legal everywhere. High doses can trigger side effects, so it is best to check with a health professional before using cannabis CBD for pain relief.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) are a group of medications that reduce inflammation and pain. They are available in capsules, tablets, or as creams or gels for the skin.

However, NSAIDs may cause issues with the stomach and the cardiovascular system in some people. Talk with a doctor before beginning treatment with NSAIDs.

Opioids

Opioids can treat moderate-to-severe pain and are generally only appropriate for short periods, as they can be addictive.

CDC guidelines recommend people should only use opioids when the benefits outweigh the risks.

There is a lack of evidence that this treatment works for chronic pain, as people typically use opioids for short periods.

Summary

Pain is the body’s natural response to infection, disease, or injury. Therefore, it should subside once the original condition runs its course. However, for some individuals, the pain does not end when the underlying cause resolves.

Doctors classify chronic pain as pain that lasts for longer than 3 months. Because this pain negatively affects an individual’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being, they may develop additional symptoms of depression, anxiety, and more. Healthcare professionals may then classify this as chronic pain syndrome.

People may require a combination of medication, physical therapy, and mental health support to overcome chronic pain syndrome.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture involves a practitioner applying thin needles to the skin at precise points in the body.

According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, evidence suggests this technique could help people manage certain pain conditions.

This includes short-term relief from pain in the lower back, neck, knee, and osteoarthritis . However, there is little evidence to suggest it is effective over the long term.

The proposed benefits of acupuncture are:

  • Pain relief
  • Reduced inflammation
  • Relaxation
  • Reduced muscle spasms

Acupuncture is generally safe when performed by trained practitioners using sterile needles.

Bay Biosciences is a global leader in providing researchers with high quality, clinical grade, fully characterized human tissue samples, bio-specimens, and human bio-fluid collections.

Samples available include cancer (tumor) tissue, cancer serum, cancer plasma, cancer, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). and human tissue samples from most other therapeutic areas and diseases.

Bay Biosciences maintains and manages its own biorepository, the human tissue bank (biobank) consisting of thousands of diseased samples (specimens) and from normal healthy donors available in all formats and types.

Our biobank procures and stores fully consented, deidentified and institutional review boards (IRB) approved human tissue samples and matched controls.

All our human tissue collections, human specimens and human bio-fluids are provided with detailed, samples associated patient’s clinical data.

This critical patient’s clinical data includes information relating to their past and current disease, treatment history, lifestyle choices, biomarkers, and genetic information.

Patient’s data is extremely valuable for researchers and is used to help identify new effective treatments (drug discovery & development) in oncology, and other therapeutic areas and diseases.

Bay Biosciences banks wide variety of human tissue samples and biological samples, including cryogenically preserved at – 80°C.

Including fresh frozen tissue samples, tumor tissue samples, formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE), tissue slides, with matching human bio-fluids, whole blood and blood-derived products such as serum, plasma and PBMC.

Bay Biosciences is a global leader in collecting and providing human tissue samples according to the specified requirements and customized, tailor-made collection protocols.

Please contact us anytime to discuss your special research projects and customized human tissue sample requirements.

Types of Biospecimens

Bay Biosciences provides human tissue samples (human specimens) from diseased and normal healthy donors which includes:

We can also procure most human bio-specimens, special collections and requests for human samples that are difficult to find. All our human tissue samples are procured through IRB-approved clinical protocols and procedures.

In addition to the standard processing protocols, Bay Biosciences can also provide human plasma, serum, and PBMC bio-fluid samples using custom processing protocols; you buy donor-specific collections in higher volumes and specified sample aliquots from us.

Bay Biosciences also provides human samples from normal healthy donors; volunteers, for controls and clinical research, contact us Now.

  • 日本のお客様は、ベイバイオサイエンスジャパンBay Biosciences Japanまたはhttp://baybiosciences-jp.com/contact/までご連絡ください。