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Can chronic pain cause other health problems? | Texas Specialty Clinic

Chronic pain is associated with a wide variety of pathophysiologies, including cancer (and its treatments), degenerative spine disease, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, human immunodeficiency virus, migraine, diabetic neuropathy, and post-herpetic neuralgia. A variety of common disorders with chronic pain conditions are widespread and are estimated to affect approximately one-third of the adult population in the United States.

If you are suffering from chronic pain and want to prevent yourself from other health problems, visit Texas Specialty Clinic for better treatment. Our experienced doctors will help you manage pain and recover faster.

Chronic pain has a large impact and can create other health problems. To avoid this situation, consulting a doctor are necessary to manage the pain and recover from chronic pain. Chronic pain must be given immediate medical attention. The common health problems which occur due to chronic pain are :

Impact On Psychological Health

Numerous research has shown that patients with chronic pain are more at risk of developing psychological conditions than those without chronic pain. Chronic pain is associated with depressive disorders, It is associated with an increased incidence of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts. The prevalence of psychological disorders ranges from 33% to 46% in individuals with chronic pain conditions, whereas the incidence of psychological disorders differs in pain-free populations (10%) or lesser duration of pain. In a study investigating the prevalence of psychopathology in patients with acute and chronic back pain, 8% of those with back pain had major depression in less than 6 months, whereas the proportion of patients with major depression was significantly higher (46%) in patients with long-term back pain.

Impact On Cognitive Processes, Central Neural Systems, and Brain Function

There is evidence that these cognitive deficits are due to the disruption of memory traces that play a role in unconscious processes associated with daily tasks, and physical changes that lead to alterations in brain function. Certain regions of the brain contain the Default Mode Network (DMN). It is normally activated to maintain the resting state of the brain and deactivated during task execution. However, a study in which patients performed a visual task which is not related to pain showed that patients with chronic back pain had significantly less DMN deactivation compared with normal controls. It suggests that chronic pain affected brain activity. Exceeded the patient’s natural pain. Other neurological changes that can occur in chronic pain patients include abnormal brain chemistry and loss of neocortical grey matter. These changes are associated with different sensory and affecting measures of pain and may be specific to specific parts of the brain. These changes in the brain are thought to be correlated with chronic pain perception and related behavioural aspects.

Cardiovascular Problems

Chronic pain intensity was found to be a statistically significant predictor of hypertension, independent of demographic predictors such as age, gender, race, and family history. This increased risk may be due in part to altered processes in normally overlapping pain pathways and cardiovascular function. It has been shown to increase sensitivity in healthy individuals and contribute to hypoalgesia. However, chronic pain patients who are more sensitive to stimuli may have decreased baroreflex sensitivity and an increased risk of hypertension, and increasing cardiovascular problems in patients with a history of coronary heart disease.

Sleeping Problem

Sleep disturbance is common in chronic pain patients and occurs in 50-89%. The degree of sleep disturbance may be directly related to the severity of the pain. A study of chronic back pain patients found that pain intensity was directly correlated with the degree of sleep disturbance. If coexisting, one condition may perpetuate the other and should be treated early.

Decreased Quality Of Life

Quality of life is limited in chronic pain patients. Quality of life is influenced not only by the above outcomes such as mental health and sleep but also by social interactions and daily activities such as relationships and employment status. The incidence of disability in social, work and daily activities is increasing in chronic pain patients and continues to increase with pain severity. Based on multiple measures of functionality, patients with acute pain also suffer a decrease in quality of life, although to a lesser extent than those with chronic pain. Therefore, it is important to effectively treat the early stages of pain before it progresses and further impairs the patient’s function.

Visit Texas Specialty Clinic and get better treatment for chronic pain. Call us at (469) 545-9983 to book an appointment.

 

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