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Any pain that lasts longer than six months is defined as chronic. Some common forms of chronic pain include continuous muscle pain accompanied by cramping, soreness, swelling and muscle spasms; headache pain, ranging from mild pain to excruciating migraines; enduring joint pain; and lingering back pain, which may be sharp or aching. Weakness, numbness, tingling, sleeping difficulties, lack of energy and depression often accompany chronic pain.

One or more of the following symptoms may be associated with chronic pain:

* Persistent or recurring pain

* Burning, tingling, shocking, or shooting pain

* Stiffness

* Limited mobility

* When thinking about chronic pain, it helps to understand how pain works. Pain occurs when special nerve endings, called pain receptors, are irritated because of illness or injury (for example, when they are exposed to too much heat, cold, trauma, or pressure). The nerves around the injured area send electrical impulses through the spinal cord. The impulses travel to receptors in the brain, and your brain interprets this as pain.

Two Types of Pain

There are two types of pain, both of which can be chronic: nociceptive and neuropathic. Nociceptive pain is the body's normal pain response. It is the type of pain that occurs when you burn your hand, twist your ankle, or stub your toe. Nociceptive pain can be temporary, but it can be chronic as well, such as when the pain is caused by cancer or arthritis. Nociceptive pain usually responds well to pain medications or other drug therapies.

Neuropathic pain is caused by a malfunctioning nervous system. This pain is not part of the body's normal pain response, although it may be triggered by an injury, illness, or trauma (for example, surgery). Neuropathic pain is often a chronic condition and generally does not respond as well to drug therapies as nociceptive pain. It may, however, respond to other therapies such as spinal cord stimulation.

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