Pain Management Guide
Many people have questions about the meaning of different terms related to pain and treatment. While much of this can be found online, we’ve gathered it all in one clear and reliable guide — so you can easily find answers in one place.
Ankylosing Spondylitis
Ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic inflammation of the spine and joints, causing pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility, typically in young…
Anxiety in Chronic Pain
Chronic pain can trigger anxiety as worry, fear, and stress often arise from ongoing pain, making everyday life harder to…
Cancer-Related Pain
Cancer-related pain is caused by the disease or its treatment and can vary in type and intensity, often greatly affecting…
Chemotherapy-Induced Neuropathy
Chemotherapy-induced neuropathy (CIPN) is nerve damage that can occur as a side effect of chemotherapy, affecting nerve function.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Chronic fatigue syndrome is a complex condition marked by persistent, unexplained fatigue that does not improve with rest.
Chronic Pain
Chronic pain is long-lasting pain that may result from injury or nerve system changes, increasing sensitivity and affecting daily life.
Chronic Pain and Sleep Problems
Chronic pain affects sleep quality, leading to fatigue, reduced function, and worsened pain, collectively lowering quality of life.
Chronic Postoperative Pain
Chronic postoperative pain is persistent pain after surgery, often caused by nerve damage, scar tissue, inflammation, or sensitization.
Cluster Headache
Cluster headache is a rare, extremely painful headache that occurs in clusters, causing intense pain behind one eye and restlessness…
Depression in Chronic Pain
Chronic pain can lead to depression, as long-term pain often affects mood and mental health.
Diabetic Neuropathy
Diabetic neuropathy is a late complication of diabetes that causes nerve damage, leading to numbness, pain, and ulcers, especially in…
Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain condition where nerve cells become more sensitive, amplifying pain. Common symptoms include fatigue and tenderness.
Herniated Disc
A herniated disc is a bulging of the soft core inside a spinal disc that can press on nerves and…
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Inflammatory bowel disease is a chronic inflammation of the intestines, such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, with pain and…
Lower Back Pain
Lower back pain is pain in the lumbar region, often without a clear cause, which can radiate down the legs…
Migraine with Aura
Migraine with aura affects about one-third of migraine sufferers and causes visual or sensory disturbances before the headache, lasting up…
Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks myelin in the brain and spinal cord, causing vision…
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is the gradual breakdown of cartilage, leading to pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility, especially in knees, hips, and hands.
Panniculitis
Panniculitis is inflammation of the fat layer under the skin, causing tender, discolored nodules, often on the shins, sometimes with…
Peripheral Neuropathy
Peripheral neuropathy is a disease of the nerves outside the central nervous system, causing pain, numbness, and weakness, often in…
Postherpetic Neuralgia
Postherpetic neuralgia is chronic nerve pain after shingles that can last for months or years, particularly in older adults after…
Radiation Therapy and Pain
Radiation therapy can cause pain during and after treatment, typically as skin irritation, swelling, tenderness, or fatigue in the treated…
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease that causes inflammation in joints, leading to pain, swelling, stiffness, and reduced mobility.
Spinal Stenosis
Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal canal that compresses nerves and causes pain, numbness, and muscle weakness in…
Tension Headache
Tension headache is a pressing, mild to moderate pain that feels like a tight band, often caused by neck and…