From WebMD · · 2m
When pain won't go away
Chronic pain syndrome affects about 25% of people with long-term pain, bringing depression, anxiety and other symptoms that disrupt daily life.
In brief
Chronic pain syndrome affects about 25% of people with long-term pain, bringing depression, anxiety and other symptoms that disrupt daily life. Chronic pain syndrome, which affects about 25% of people with chronic pain lasting 3 to 6 months or more, combines pain with depression and anxiety that interfere with daily…
Pain that doesn't heal
Pain lasting three to six months or more is called chronic pain. When it continues day after day, it takes a toll on your emotional and physical health.
When pain becomes a syndrome
About twenty-five percent of people with chronic pain develop chronic pain syndrome, or CPS. This means they have symptoms beyond pain alone, like depression and anxiety, which interfere with their daily lives.
What starts chronic pain syndrome
Doctors don't know exactly what causes CPS, but it often starts with an injury or painful condition like arthritis, back pain, fibromyalgia, nerve damage, broken bones, cancer, or surgery.
How the body and mind connect
Some experts think people with CPS have a problem with the system of nerves and glands that handles stress, making them feel pain differently.Others say it's a learned response from repeating bad behaviors during pain.
Symptoms beyond the pain
CPS affects physical health, emotions and social life. Symptoms include anxiety, depression, poor sleep, feeling very tired, irritability, guilt, loss of interest in sex, drug or alcohol abuse, marriage or family problems, job loss and…
How doctors diagnose it
Your doctor will ask about illnesses or injuries that started the pain, when it began, where it hurts, what it feels like and how severe it is on a scale of one to ten.
Treatment options available
CPS can be treated with physical therapy, occupational therapy, counseling, relaxation techniques like deep breathing or meditation, biofeedback, spinal cord stimulation, nerve blocks, pain medicines and surgery to treat the underlying condition.
The one thing
Chronic pain syndrome, which affects about 25% of people with chronic pain lasting 3 to 6 months or more, combines pain with depression and anxiety that interfere with daily life and can be treated with counseling, physical therapy and relaxation techniques.
