Chronic Pain Disorders Report

If you are looking to learn more about the different chronic pain disorders, this is a great 
report to start with. It provides a brief overview of 8 different types of chronic pain, along 
with natural remedies available to help treat each of them. 

1. Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is one of the most life changing and persistent silent diseases. As a 
person begins to experience some of the more unpleasant effects of the disease, they 
will likely face challenges that test the strength of relationships, and their resolve to 
complete goals. In order to face the uncertainty of these situations, it is recommended 
that any person suffering from Fibromyalgia should educate themselves as much as 
possible so that they can avail themselves of as many viable options as possible. 

What It Is 

Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain disorder that has recently be found to be a relatively 
common phenomenon. Symptoms often come and go, most often leaving the person 
suffering confused, disoriented, and frustrated. It is also often accompanied by various 
types of inflammation.  

Causes 

To date, there are no known causes for this disorder, but doctors have theories that it 
may be caused by an overabundance of stress or a problem with how pain information 
is delivered to the brain, yet other think that it could be caused by some kind of 
malformation of nerve endings. 

Symptoms 

Fibromyalgia is generally characterized by pain in the limbs, tenderness in different 
parts of the body, soreness and inflammation of the joints, inflammation of the bowels, 
fatigue, anxiety and depression. Anxiety and depression are likely a normal outcome of 
being faced with the possibility of having a portion of your day disrupted by pain, and 
soreness. On the positive end, Fibromyalgia doesn’t have the ability to cause 
permanent damage to the areas that it affects, so once the symptoms have ended, you 
may experience a period of relief for that area. 

Treatment

The treatment for fibromyalgia isn’t about curing it, but controlling the pain. This often 
includes taking pain relief medications, attending therapy to handle the emotional 
impact, and changing your diet.

Natural Remedies

Anti-inflammatory foods should be a part of a sufferer's diet. Fruits and vegetables like 
blue berries, celery, spinach, and other leafy greens should be a major part of your diet. 
These can help to combat inflammation, and make the disease less difficult to cope 
with. 

2. Chronic Headaches

There’s nothing worse than a sudden and painful headache. Sometimes these pains 
can take you by complete surprise, leaving you wondering what you did to deserve such 
an unpleasant experience, but you are left with very few answers. There can be a wide 
variety of factors that cause or play into these headaches, but the one thing you know is 
the stress that comes from hoping that they don’t return. Luckily, there are a few options 
that you can consider, and with a small amount of research, you may find an answer 
that works for you. 

What It Is 

In order to be diagnosed with having chronic headaches, the official definition says that 
you have them when they appear 15 days out of the month for at least 3 months. This 
can easily manifest into a person who suffers from the headaches becoming 
accustomed to repeatedly taking maximum doses of over the counter drugs to manage 
their pain.  

Causes 

The causes of chronic headache can be quite varied, but a few of the causes can be: 
various type of inflammation of tissues like veins and arteries near the brain, past head 
trauma, tumors, and blood clots. 

Symptoms 

The primary symptoms of a chronic headache are pain in left and right sides of the 
head. This pain will persist, but are unlikely to get bad enough to incapacitate you. 
Sensitivity to light or sound are often another common symptom. This could mean that 
bright lights or loud music could intensify the pain. 

Treatment

For chronic headaches, your doctor will likely want to run some tests to figure out if they 
have another cause. The cause of headaches is typically what helps treat them. 

However, if no distinct cause is found, treatment is about relieving the pain to give you a 
better quality of life.

Natural Remedies

If your pain is caused by a simple vascular issue, then eating foods with vasodilator 
properties could be a good answer for you. Foods with Omega 3 fatty acids like tuna 
and unsaturated fats like those found in avocado are a great way to increase your 
arterial elasticity. It is always a good idea to see a doctor when life threatening ailments 
are a possibility.  

3. Chronic Migraines

People all over the world suffer from some form of chronic migraine or another. 
Migraines have different symptoms that are not always associated with chronic pain, 
and can range from the benign to the most incapacitating of pain experiences a person 
will ever experience.  As more research is done, science has uncovered an extensive 
list of causes of migraines.

What It Is 

Chronic Migraines are characterized by heavy, painful pulsing in the head region. This 
normally appears only on one side of the head and can last for hours and even days. A 
person who suffers this condition for more than 15 days a month for 3 months is said to 
be a chronic migraine sufferer. 

Causes 

Currently, the causes for migraines aren’t yet understood. Some doctors claim that it is 
possibly originated as a vascular issue, but more study is needed to make a 
determination. Other theories include, nervous system damage, vascular anomalies, 
hereditary predisposition, and chemical imbalances. At times, these symptoms could 
even be a sign of a far more serious condition that might need serious medical attention 
like tumors, meningitis, and other infections. 

Symptoms 

Migraines tend to have a grouping of symptoms that often involve many other parts of 
the body, vision, and even stomach. This can include: vomiting, blurry vision, -heavy 
pounding or pulsing on one side of the head - believed to be the site of the affected 
area.

Treatment

People with chronic migraines don’t typically have a simple treatment available. 
Medications are often at the top of the list to relieve migraines and keep more from 
coming in the future.

Natural Remedies

Cognitive behavioral therapy can help to treat migraines as well as a healthy diet, and 
exercise. One new practice is that of administering Onabotulinumtoxina, the agent used 
in Botox. Tests have had good results with patients taking higher doses of vitamin B12 
and ingesting vitamin rich foods. Living with severe migraines can be challenging, so it 
is not uncommon for a person who suffers from migraines to feel stressed or depressed 
about having to face days with the uncertainty that migraines can cause.  

4. Arthritis 

One of the more common types of chronic pain disorders is arthritis, which causes 
soreness and aching in the joints. Some people have arthritis only in particular areas of 
the body, while others have it throughout all their joints. Arthritis is a type of 
inflammation that affects joints and bones, and can be extremely common as a person 
reaches 60 years of age and older. One great thing however, is that the widespread 
nature of this disease means that there are a variety of effective treatments available to 
try, and that new research is being done every day to help improve the quality of life for 
people. 

What It Is 

Arthritis in an inflammation of the joints anywhere in the body, especially if it continues 
for longer than 6 weeks. The two most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and 
rheumatoid arthritis. 

Causes 

Arthritis is most often caused by major changes in cartilage, which is the soft tissue 
between bones that allows your joints to bend. As these changes take place and joint 
function becomes reduced, a person is said to have arthritis. In the case of 
Osteoarthritis, this is caused by the actual daily wear of use. Rheumatoid arthritis is an 
autoimmune disease that causes the body’s defenses to attack the soft tissues. The 
exact triggering event that causes the immune system to so this is not yet understood. 

Symptoms 

The primary symptoms of arthritis are joint soreness, joint stiffness and heavy 
inflammation. It also affects the eyes and skin by causing dryness, and redness. 
Inflammation can spread to other areas like the skin and even the veins and arteries. 
You may also experience dryness of the mouth and anemia. 

Treatment

For arthritis, you want to focus on reducing the inflammation in your body, as this is 
what causes the pain in your joints. This may include gentle exercise, specific stretches, 
pain relievers and anti-inflammatory medications, and changing your diet.

Natural Remedies

Most remedies that exist will focus on bringing down or reducing inflammation. This can 
be done by eating anti-inflammatory foods that are high in vitamins and minerals, as 
well as high in Omega 3 fatty acids like albacore tuna, avocado, and other healthy fat 
sources. 

5. Neuropathy

The nerves of the body are responsible for carrying much of the sensory information 
from the location of the event to your brain. These pathways also serve to send report 
information about a lot of other very important functions of the body. When these signals 
have difficulty reaching the desired destination, this can result in a few different types of 
health issues, most commonly, it manifests in the form of pain. For some people with 
this condition, the pain can remain at a constant level resulting in chronic pain.  
 
What It Is 

Neuropathy is the term given to the inability of nerves to send and receive messages 
from the brain in a normal fashion. This malfunction of nerves in the body can have 
benign to severe symptoms.

Causes 

Nerves that travel along the body near bones and muscles can become pinched, or 
constricted. When the signal flow is interrupted, proper control of these areas will most 
likely become impaired. This can ever be said of important organs. Diabetes can also 
cause nerve damage that reduces sensation in the hands and feet as well as other 
parts of the body. 

Symptoms 

Some of the common symptoms include: loss of balance, burning sensations, 
weakness, pain centered in the face, feet, legs, arms, and hands. Loss of sensation in 
the extremities. 

Treatment

Neuropathy, like many other chronic pain conditions, don’t have a cure and may never 
go away. Therefore, your treatment is just to find ways to relieve the pain.

Natural Remedies

If you’re looking for a way to naturally control neuropathy, having a healthier lifestyle is 
among the best. At the top of this list would be maintaining a healthy blood sugar. As 
mentioned before, Diabetes is one of the main reason for nerve damage in people who 
suffer from the condition. Diets with better nutrition will also help you to heal properly. 
Managing stress, and keeping up with a good exercise routine can also help you to 
retain better control over your nerves.  

6. Back Pain

Generally speaking, chronic back pain is extremely common among adults all over the 
world. This condition can become extremely difficult to deal with because it can cause 
even the most able-bodied person to become immobile, and can prevent them from 
doing even the most basic tasks to take care of themselves, others, and their 
environment. Even though there are quite a few solutions to this condition, some people 
will still lack the resources to obtain help. In addition to that, there are varied causes for 
back pain, so not all solutions are viable options. 

What It Is 

Back pain is any kind of pain the emanates from the back area. The back can easily be 
divided into different sections: the lower back, middle back, and upper back. Injuries 
sustained in each of these regions may point to a specific cause at times, but it is 
possible for it to not always be just so. Typically, back pain can come from repeated 
actions of muscle strains, but it can also come from more serious disorders and injuries 
that take place over a period of time. 

Causes 

Back pain can be caused by: Overuse of muscles, muscle strain, disk deterioration, 
nerve damage, nerve malformation, and even lack of use. Being overweight and out of 
shape. 

Symptoms 

Dull, sharp or radiating pains that stem from the back. Limited range of motion. Difficulty 
standing without pain. 

Treatment

For back pain, there are a variety of treatment options, from chiropractic care and 
physical therapy, to getting massages, changing your lifestyle, getting surgery, or taking 
pain relief medications. This will depend on the type of back pain you have.

Natural Remedies

Having a good, well rounded exercise routine can help to prevent future injuries. When 
muscles are stronger, they help to keep other bones and muscles in place during 
activities. If you are experiencing soreness or tender areas of the back, you can try and 
soothing warm soak followed by cold compress to ease inflammation. If you’ve seen a 
doctor and they can’t find a physical reason for your pain, the opinion of a nerve 
specialist might be the next step. 

7. Shingles

It’s been stated that anyone who has had the chickenpox is very likely to get shingles.  
For most people however, shingles usually don’t appear until they are at least 60 years 
of age or more. When trying to fight this disease, it may be common to experience a 
good amount of discomfort that is caused by a burning sensation that emanates from a 
central point that might be completely undetectable by the eye. Fortunately, there is a 
good amount of information about shingles and what you can do to be able to deal with 
them. 

What It Is 

Shingles, or Zoster is a virus that infects most people in childhood in the form of 
chickenpox. 

This virus has the ability to lay dormant in the nerve endings for years until the immune 
system of the host is either weakened or compromised by other illness. 

Causes 

Once a person reaches a later age, usually around 60 years and over, the virus can be 
reactivated and become active, resulting in an outbreak. In some cases, people with 
heavy stresses, strain on the body through habits, and weakened immune systems 
resulting from Immune deficiency diseases can lead to an outbreak of shingles. 

Symptoms 

Some common symptoms that can indicate that you may now be experiencing shingles 
can include: Painful blisters, burning sensations, bands of pain often accompanied by 
blistering, headaches, and rashes. 

Treatment

There isn’t much you can do about shingles aside from taking medications to relieve the 
pain or trying natural remedies to ease the discomfort.

Natural Remedies

Foods high in vitamins A, B, C, and E are good for shingles and can reduce its effects. 
You can also pick up a bottle of the amino acid Lysine to help fight off some symptoms. 
Avoiding high amounts of sugar and arginine-rich foods can make it difficult for the virus 
to make its symptoms known. Be sure to keep any area with symptoms clean, and 
avoid using hot water. Following a bath with a baking soda and cornstarch paste can 
alleviate a lot of the itching and burning in the meantime.  

8. Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple Sclerosis is a disease that is shrouded in mystery, as well as frustration for 
those that study its effects. At this time, Multiple Sclerosis is classified as an immune-
mediated disease. This is because researchers haven’t yet discovered the exact agent 
that is the target of these microscopic attacks. Hopefully in the near future, doctors will 
be able to see what causes this debilitating disease, and work out a cure for the many 
millions of people it currently affects.  

What It Is 

Multiple Sclerosis is a disease that cause damage or disruption in the coating that 
protects and helps nerve cells to function. This typically affects very important nerve 
cells in the spinal column and the brain. This makes the disease somewhat dangerous, 
yet, only a small number of people with the disease will experience fatal effects. MS 
generally makes its presence known between the ages of 20 - 40, and primarily affects 
women.  

Causes 

At the present time, science has still been unable to uncover the mechanism of multiple 
sclerosis. Theories that have been proposed include the belief that there is genetic 
disposition to the disease that is triggered by some outside factor, but further study is 
needed. 

Symptoms 

Multiple Sclerosis can begin to manifest in many different ways depending on the point 
at which the disease has begun an attack. A person with symptoms might experience 
blurry vision, incontinence, fatigue, slurred speech, tremors and muscle spasms. If the 
disease set in to attack a portion of the brain or spine that controls vital function, it could 
be possible for it to end in death. 

Treatment

Multiple sclerosis treatment simply relies on managing the side effects and symptoms, 
including pain management.

Natural Remedies

Given that Multiple Sclerosis isn’t entirely understood, there aren’t a lot of things that 
can be done to help a person who is suffering from the disease. One positive thing is 
that the disease will often go into a remission, or a period where it doesn’t progress. 

