Common Pain Conditions
Chronic pain is pain that has lasted for 3 months or more. While some chronic pain conditions are more common than others, and can be from a multitude of causes, chronic pain affects more than 40 million people in the United States alone. In addition to the one that actually suffers, chronic pain places a burden on the family members and friends of a sufferer.
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30 October 2011
Phantom limb pain (PLP) is the sensation of pain perceived from a limb that is no longer attached to the body; a phenomenon experienced by patients having lost an upper or lower extremity due to trauma or surgical amputation1. PLP is common following limb removal, affecting between 49–88% of amputees2. Onset of PLP typically occurs shortly after limb loss, although in some cases it sets on months or years later1.
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24 August 2011
Reflex sympathetic dystrophy, also known as complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), is a chronic pain condition with no known cure. It is most commonly reported in the limbs; often the pain will spread from hand to shoulder, or foot to hip. The severity of the pain without severe injury is one of the telltale symptoms of CRPS.
Other symptoms may include dramatic changes in the color of the affected skin; the skin may also feel incredibly warm. In this area, patients report intense, burning pain, sweating and swelling and general discomfort.
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17 August 2011
Post herpetic neuralgia is a painful nerve and skin condition caused by shingles – or the virus herpes zoster. The same virus is responsible for causing chickenpox in children. Post herpetic neuralgia is the on-going pain associated with a shingles outbreak.
Post herpetic neuralgia symptoms include a burning pain that may influence sleep and appetite. For most who suffer from shingles, the rash and blisters associated disappear within three weeks, along with any pain from the outbreak. However, a small minority of shingles patients will go on to have pain that lasts months or years after the outbreak. This is caused by nerve fibers that are damaged during the shingles outbreak. As a result, the nerves cannot properly send messages between the skin and the brain. The product of this confusion is chronic, intense pain.
27 January 2011
The term “degenerative disc disease” can be misleading, as this is not truly a disease, but a gradual breakdown of the discs that comes naturally with age or other contributing factors. While degeneration can happen throughout the spine, it is most common in the neck (cervical spine) or in the low back (lumbar spine).
Degeneration of the discs may have multiple contributing factors. The natural process of aging can break down the fluid inside the discs, making them less spongy, and thus lessening their effect on cushioning the spine. With the loss of fluid, the discs will begin to become thinner and will cause the vertebra of the spine to grow closer and closer together, which can begin to cause chronic pain.
20 December 2010
A common knee injury, a torn meniscus is usually caused by a forceful twist of the knee while exerting your full weight upon it. This injury is commonly seen in those who pivot while playing their sport – those such as tennis and basketball players. A torn meniscus can also be the result of a high-contact sport like football or rugby, and can even be caused by deep knee bends while lifting a heavy object.
