Good health is something that most people take for granted. But once a person experiences chronic pain, they will never see their pain-free existence the same again.

Chronic pain can be debilitating and can affect all areas of life. At our chronic pain management clinic in Surrey, we help our clients work towards a life that is free from chronic pain.

While we deal with pain management, one aspect we focus on is the root cause of chronic pain. We are often asked: what can cause chronic pain?

The complicated thing with chronic pain is that the root cause can be elusive, and may take some time to narrow down. But there are several common culprits that we often look to. This list is by no means exhaustive, but are some of the more recurrent sources of chronic pain.

5 Causes of Chronic Pain

1. Autoimmune Disorders

Autoimmune disorders cause the immune system to attack healthy cells. Instead of protecting the body, the immune system becomes the source of the body’s pain and can very often lead to long-lasting chronic pain. Some examples of autoimmune disorders include rheumatoid arthritis and lupus disease.

2. Infectious Diseases

Often the result of bacteria or viruses that have taken up in a person’s system, infectious diseases might cause chronic pain like joint pain, rashes or blisters, fatigue, stiffness, fever, and so on. Infectious diseases are easily treated and can often get better on their own, but they can also difficult to diagnose.

3. Physical and Emotional Trauma

A physical accident or witnessing a disturbing event can both lead to long-term chronic pain, even when it might not seem related. Since the body and mind function as a whole, chronic pain can appear after it has been repressed and it can flare up later in life.

4. Cancer

This disease causes abnormal cell growth, destroys tissue, and can result in a wide range of symptoms which very often include chronic pain. Cancer can happen nearly anywhere in the body at affects people young and old. Both the disease and the treatment can result in chronic pain.

5. Nerve Damage

Damage can occur to the nerves in the brain and spinal cord. It can also occur in the peripheral nerves, which are located throughout the rest of the body. Nerve damage can occur in many ways, but the result is often long-term chronic pain that can be localized or travel throughout the body.

Again, this list only scratches the surface of what causes chronic pain. Chronic pain can be the result of a disease or disorder, or it can be the result of poor health habits that have built up over time. The first step is identifying it and finding a chronic pain management plan that is right. From there, it is easier to think long-term about healing the condition causing it in the first place.

Chronic pain plagues millions of people around the world, and many have given up hope of living free from it. Pain management is the first step toward living a life free from chronic pain, and it is life-changing. At our pain management clinic in Surrey, we help people every day live a life free from pain.