Chronic pain

From MEpedia, a crowd-sourced encyclopedia of ME and CFS science and history

Chronic pain is described by the National Institutes of Health as follows: "Chronic pain persists. Pain signals keep firing in the nervous system for weeks, months, even years."[1] Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) patients can experience chronic pain but it is the primary symptom of fibromyalgia. Lupus, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, osteoarthritis, shingles, and neuropathy are also conditions that have chronic pain.

Types of pain[edit | edit source]

According to location:

Abnormal pain processing:

  • Allodynia - normal sensations are painful, such as clothes touching the skin
  • Hyperalgesia - increased pain sensitivity (decreased pain tolerance)
  • Analgesia - absence of normal pain sensations

Prevalence[edit | edit source]

Symptom recognition[edit | edit source]

  • In the Canadian Consensus Criteria, pain is a required symptom for diagnosis. It requires that "there is a significant degree of myalgia. Pain can be experienced in the muscles, and/or joints, and is often widespread and migratory in nature. Often there are significant headaches of new type, pattern or severity."[2]

Notable studies[edit | edit source]

  • 2019, Core outcome measures for chronic pain clinical trials: IMMPACT recommendations[3] (Full text)

Possible causes[edit | edit source]

Potential treatments[edit | edit source]

Learn more[edit | edit source]

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. "Chronic Pain Information Page". National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Retrieved August 15, 2018.
  2. A Clinical Case Definition and Guidelines for Medical Practitioners: An Overview of the Canadian Consensus Document Pg 8. 2005.
  3. Dworkin, RH; Turk, DC; Farrar, JT; Haythornthwaite, JA; Jensen, MP; Katz, NP; Kerns, RD; Stucki, G; Allen, RR; Bellamy, N; Carr, DB (January 1, 2005). "Core outcome measures for chronic pain clinical trials: IMMPACT recommendations" (PDF). PAIN. 113 (1): 9–19.
  4. Yang, Xiu Hong; Zhang, Bao Long; Gu, Yan Hong; Zhan, Xiao Li; Guo, Li Li; Jin, Hui Min (2018). "Association of sleep disorders, chronic pain, and fatigue with survival in patients with chronic kidney disease: a meta-analysis of clinical trials". Sleep Medicine. 51: 59–65. doi:10.1016/j.sleep.2018.06.020. ISSN 1389-9457.
  5. "23 Ways to Combat Pain Naturally By Increasing Your Opioids - Selfhacked". Selfhacked. March 28, 2016. Retrieved August 15, 2018.