Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 23, 2026
02:41
Acupoint Catgut Embedding for Treatment of Chronic Pelvic Pain Due to the Sequelae of Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
Published on: May 3, 2024
The consequences of chronic pain
1Department of Pain Medicine and Anesthesiology, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, California 95817, USA. engreenberg@ucdavis.edu
Journal of Pain & Palliative Care Pharmacotherapy
|March 28, 2012
Summary
Untreated chronic pain significantly impacts quality of life, causing physical, emotional, and social distress. Recognizing chronic pain as a disease entity is crucial for effective patient advocacy and management.
Area of Science:
- Pain Medicine
- Patient Education
Background:
- Untreated or undertreated chronic pain presents significant challenges.
- Chronic pain is increasingly recognized as a distinct disease, not merely a symptom.
- Associated conditions include anxiety, depression, and sympathetic nervous system activation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To educate patients on analgesic pharmacotherapy.
- To empower patients to become more effective self-advocates regarding their pain management.
- To highlight the multifaceted consequences of chronic pain.
Main Methods:
- Compilation of patient questions and author responses regarding pain management.
- Focus on the disease entity of chronic pain and its effects.
- Discussion of physical, emotional, and social impacts.
Main Results:
- Chronic pain profoundly affects patient quality of life.
- Anxiety and depression frequently co-occur with chronic pain.
- The 'fight-or-flight' response can be triggered by chronic pain.
Conclusions:
- Effective management of chronic pain is essential for improving patient well-being.
- Patient education is key to enhancing self-advocacy in pain management.
- Addressing chronic pain requires a comprehensive approach considering its physical and psychological dimensions.
Related Concept Videos
01:24Chronic Pancreatitis I: Introduction
The pancreas, an elongated and flat gland situated behind the stomach, serves a vital function in digesting food and managing blood sugar levels.
Pancreatitis is the inflammation of the pancreas, which occurs when the immune system becomes active and causes swelling, pain, and disruptions in organ function. Pancreatitis can manifest as either an acute or chronic condition.
Acute pancreatitis arises suddenly and lasts for a brief duration, while chronic pancreatitis is a long-term affliction...
Pancreatitis is the inflammation of the pancreas, which occurs when the immune system becomes active and causes swelling, pain, and disruptions in organ function. Pancreatitis can manifest as either an acute or chronic condition.
Acute pancreatitis arises suddenly and lasts for a brief duration, while chronic pancreatitis is a long-term affliction...
01:25Chronic Pancreatitis I: Introduction
Chronic pancreatitis is a long-standing, relapsing inflammation of the pancreas, characterized by irreversible damage to the gland. It results in progressive destruction of the pancreatic parenchyma, fibrosis, and eventual loss of both exocrine and endocrine function. The disease may evolve gradually after multiple episodes of acute pancreatitis or develop independently.EtiologyChronic pancreatitis can arise from a variety of causes:Alcohol use is the leading cause, accounting for 70–80% of...
01:21Chronic Pancreatitis II: Pathophysiology
Chronic pancreatitis is a progressive and irreversible inflammation of the pancreas, most often caused by long-term alcohol abuse, but it can also be related to ductal obstruction, smoking, or genetic factors.Chronic pancreatitis occurs when the pancreas is repeatedly exposed to harmful agents like alcohol, smoking, ductal obstruction, or genetic predisposition. These factors lead to the release of toxic metabolites and inflammatory cytokines, sustaining chronic inflammation in the pancreatic...
01:25Analgesia and Pain Management
Pain is critical to various clinical pathologies, provoking an urgent need for effective management. Pain, whether acute or chronic, is a complex neurochemical process. Its alleviation depends on the type, with nonopioid analgesics effective for mild to moderate pain, such as musculoskeletal or inflammatory pain, while neuropathic pain responds best to anticonvulsants, tricyclic antidepressants, or serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. For severe acute or chronic pain, opioids may be...
01:44Nociception
Nociception—the ability to feel pain—is essential for an organism’s survival and overall well-being. Noxious stimuli such as piercing pain from a sharp object, heat from an open flame, or contact with corrosive chemicals are first detected by sensory receptors, called nociceptors, located on nerve endings. Nociceptors express ion channels that convert noxious stimuli into electrical signals. When these signals reach the brain via sensory neurons, they are perceived as pain. Thus, pain helps the...
01:12Chronic Inflammation: Introduction
Chronic inflammation is a prolonged, dysregulated immune response that persists for weeks to years when the inciting stimulus is difficult to eradicate or when self‑antigens drive ongoing reactivity. Morphologically, it is defined by mononuclear cell infiltration, progressive tissue destruction, and concurrent attempts at healing via angiogenesis and fibrosis. Compared with acute inflammation, edema is less prominent while cellular infiltration predominates; triggers include persistent...