by Holle Abee

Created on: June 23, 2009   Last Updated: July 01, 2009

Dealing with pain on a daily basis can be extremely taxing - physically, mentally, and emotionally. Chronic pain is generally defined as pain that persists for at least three months. 35% of Americans suffer from some form of chronic pain in their lifetimes. Some of the causes are fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, impinged nerves, depression, and a condition referred to as chronic pain syndrome.

Fibromyalgia is widespread pain, ranging from mild to severe. It can occur in almost any body location but is more common in the thighs, chest, shoulders, neck,and back. There's no blood test or x-ray that reveals the condition. Instead, doctors look for 18 specific tender points. If you have at least 11 of these, the diagnosis for fibromyalgia can be made.

Osteoarthritis causes pain in joints. It can be diagnosed by x-ray, MRI, and CT scan.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that causes pain and swelling in joints and surrounding tissues, usually affecting small bones, like in the hands, wrists, and feet. The disease can also affect internal organs. RA can be diagnosed through x-rays and blood tests, including Rh factor, anti-CCP, and the ANA test.

Impinged nerves cause burning pain, tingling, and numbness. Nerve conduction tests and MRIs are the best way to discover the affected nerves.

Depression can cause physical pain as well as emotional pain and is usually determined after an interview and medical evaluation by a health care professional.

Chronic pain syndrome can affect any area of the body and can be caused by a number of illnesses and conditions. Sometimes doctors cannot determine a cause. The ongoing pain associated with the syndrome does not respond to typical treatment methods. A diagnosis is made after a physical exam, a drug history, and a clinical interview.

To treat chronic pain, health care providers and patients have an arsenal of available methods from which to choose. Combinations of treatments often provide more pain relief than any one of them alone:

Oral drugs: Medications are often the first line of defense for chronic pain. Aspirin and ibuprofen can relieve pain and inflammation associated with mild to moderate pain. For nerve pain, anticonvulsants are often prescribed. Opioids are often very effective for easing moderate to severe pain, but some lose their effectiveness after being taken for a time. The best narcotic for severe chronic pain is morphine. If you're allergic to narcotics, try a synthetic

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