Understanding Chronic Pain: Why It’s More Than Just Physical
Estimated reading time: 3 min
What is chronic pain?
Chronic pain is pain that lasts longer than three months — beyond the body’s natural healing time. It's more than just an ongoing ache; it's a complex condition shaped by biological, psychological, and social factors.
It’s incredibly common too — affecting up to 51% of UK adults, with around 1 in 7 experiencing moderate to severely disabling pain (NICE, 2024).
Put simply: chronic pain is common, complicated, and often misunderstood. And that can make it incredibly hard to manage — physically and emotionally.
Chronic Pain vs. Acute Pain: What’s the Difference?
Acute pain (e.g. from an injury or surgery):
✔️ Usually short-term
✔️ Often explained by a clear cause
✔️ Eases with rest, healing, or medication
Chronic pain:
✖️ May not have a clear cause (even on scans or blood tests)
✖️ Doesn’t always respond to medication
✖️ Can impact your roles, identity, mood, and relationships
✖️ Can feel exhausting, isolating, and hard to explain
Types of Chronic Pain
🔹 Neuropathic pain – Caused by nerve damage or dysfunction (e.g. carpal tunnel, diabetes, CRPS). Often described as burning, shooting, or tingling.
🔹 Nociceptive pain – From physical damage to tissues like muscles, joints, or organs (e.g. arthritis, sprains). Typically aching, sharp, or throbbing.
🔹 Nociplastic pain – Pain without obvious injury or inflammation. Linked to nervous system sensitivity and processing changes (e.g. fibromyalgia, IBS, TMJ). Often widespread and accompanied by fatigue, poor sleep, or brain fog.
The Impact of Chronic Pain
Chronic pain affects every area of life. It can:
Limit physical activity and independence
Cause low mood, anxiety, or emotional distress
Strain relationships, affect work, and reduce quality of life
It’s a whole-person experience — which means it often needs a whole-person approach.
How is Chronic Pain Diagnosed?
Diagnosis usually starts with a physical exam, medical history, and possibly tests like MRIs or bloodwork. But identifying chronic pain isn’t always straightforward — there’s no one-size-fits-all test, and pain can look and feel different for everyone.
Managing Chronic Pain: What Are the Options?
Conventional Approaches:
Medication (e.g. anti-inflammatories, nerve pain meds)
Physiotherapy – movement, pacing, strength, flare-up management
Psychological support – CBT, pain education, counselling
Surgery – in select cases
Complementary Therapies:
Acupuncture
Massage therapy
Mind-body practices – yoga, meditation, breathwork
Lifestyle & Self-Management:
Sleep hygiene, pacing, gentle activity, nutrition, stress reduction
Keeping a pain diary to track symptoms and triggers
Building emotional support systems (friends, family, professionals)
Final Thoughts
Chronic pain is real, valid, and difficult — but it is possible to live well with it.
With the right strategies, support, and care, many people find relief, empowerment, and a better quality of life. You are not alone. Whether you’re newly diagnosed or have been living with pain for years, there are tools, treatments, and compassionate professionals ready to support you.
