Pain in the bones, muscles, ligaments, tendons, and other soft tissues can make your life miserable. It can start suddenly and be short-lived, or it can last longer than a few months. When it does, it’s called chronic musculoskeletal pain. The pain may be felt in one area of the body, such as the back, or throughout it if you have a widespread condition like fibromyalgia.
It’s hard for your doctor to treat your musculoskeletal pain unless he or she knows what is causing it. You can help by telling your healthcare provider how long you’ve had the pain, whether it is constant or comes and goes, and how intense it is. You can also talk about any other symptoms, such as trouble sleeping or fatigue.
Your doctor will use your medical history and physical examination to diagnose musculoskeletal pain. He or she will look at the painful area to see if there is a redness, swelling, or any other sign of an injury or disease. Tests, such as X-rays and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), can be used to see what’s causing the pain.
The most common cause of Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain Services is injury, such as a sprained or broken ankle or wrist. Other causes include arthritis, overuse, and problems with posture. Pain can also be caused by referred pain, which is when nerves send signals to the brain that tell you that a part of your body is hurting.
Symptoms of musculoskeletal pain can range from sharp, throbbing, or burning to dull, aching, or pressure. The pain can be localized to a specific area or it can spread from one part of the body to another, as with a backache that radiates into your legs. The pain can be acute, meaning it’s sudden and severe, or chronic, meaning it lasts a long time.
There are many different treatment options for musculoskeletal pain, including over-the-counter and prescription medications. Exercise, a healthy diet, stress management, and getting enough sleep can help reduce pain. For some people, acupuncture and massage can be helpful. For others, surgery is a option.
Chronic musculoskeletal pain affects 47% of the general population, and it’s the leading cause of disability worldwide.1
It can make it difficult to do your daily activities, work, and socialize. It can also lead to other health problems, such as depression, anxiety, poor posture, and obesity.
The most common types of musculoskeletal pain are neck and low back pain, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis.
People who are older, female, and have a lower socioeconomic status are more likely to have chronic musculoskeletal pain than those who are younger, male, and have a higher socioeconomic status. It’s not clear what causes this difference, but it could be related to a number of factors, such as how much manual labor you do and whether you smoke. You can lower your risk for musculoskeletal pain by avoiding smoking, keeping physically active, and eating well. You can also get support from groups that are devoted to chronic musculoskeletal pain.
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