Chronic pain is defined as pain that persists long after the tissue has healed
Pain is vital to our survival. Some people are born with a unusual condition that does not allow them to feel pain. These people rarely live past the age of 25. This is because pain serves a protective mechanism for us. We feel pain whenever there is tissue damage or the potential for tissue damage. For example, when you cut your finger, strain a muscle, or break a bone your body sends signals back to your brain which you perceive as pain. This pain sensation is a signal to you that something is wrong and needs your attention. Pain has significant survival value, but when an injury has healed and the pain continues, or when pain seems to have no obvious connection to any injury, it no longer serves a useful purpose. Pain of this type is referred to as chronic pain, and once you have fallen under its affect, it may be very difficult to escape.
The Challenge of Pain Management
The management of chronic pain has always been a medical challenge. The traditional medical approach involves increasing doses of a variety of medications until relief is attained. In some instances, the pain is significantly reduced with the use of medication; however when the drugs wear off the pain returns. The constant need for medications becomes a permanent fixture of life, often resulting in drug dependence or even addiction.