Chronic pain

Chronic pain is described by the NIH as follows: "Chronic pain persists. Pain signals keep firing in the nervous system for weeks, months, even years." 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.

Symptom recognition

 * 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."

Notable studies

 * 2019, Core outcome measures for chronic pain clinical trials: IMMPACT recommendations (Full text)


 * 2018, Association of sleep disorders, chronic pain, and fatigue with survival in patients with chronic kidney disease: A meta-analysis of clinical trials

Learn more

 * 2016, 23 Ways to Combat Pain Naturally By Increasing Your Opioids