What is chronic pain?

Chronic pain is pain that lasts beyond the normal healing time after an illness or injury. This is generally more than 3 to 6 months.

Chronic pain is sometimes also called 'persistent pain'. It is a complex condition, and everyone experiences it differently. The pain can range from mild to severe.

Chronic pain is ongoing, and the pain is usually felt on most days.

What causes chronic pain?

Normally, when you have an injury or illness, your nerves carry signals from the affected part of your body to your brain. This tells your brain that there's a problem. The brain reads these signals as pain. This type of pain usually gets better once the problem heals. But sometimes, it can turn into chronic pain.

In chronic pain, the nerves that carry pain signals to your brain, or the brain itself, may behave in an unusual way. The nerves might be more sensitive than usual. Sometimes the brain might misread other signals as pain.

Sometimes people with chronic pain have nerve pain due to nerve damage or ongoing inflammation.

Chronic pain can be caused by conditions such as:

• back pain or neck pain
• arthritis and other types of joint pain
• abdominal pain — endometriosis and persistent pelvic pain
• migraine
• fibromyalgia
• diabetic neuropathy

In some cases, chronic pain starts after an injury or surgery. Sometimes, there is no obvious cause of chronic pain.

If you are concerned about your pain, talk to your doctor.

Living with chronic pain

Chronic pain can make it hard to:

• work
• take care of yourself
• exercise
• socialise
• do the things you enjoy

It can also affect your sleep and mood. Chronic pain can increase your risk of anxiety and depression.

Treatments for chronic pain aim to help reduce the pain and improve your overall functioning.

What can I do to manage chronic pain?

For many people, chronic pain cannot be cured. But there are treatments available.

A management plan for chronic pain aims to prevent the pain from interfering with your daily life. This can help you get back to socialising, working and being active.

Medicines alone are not usually enough to manage chronic pain. If you have chronic pain, your doctor may recommend other treatments, such as:

• relaxation techniques, including meditation
• physical activity or strengthening exercises
• psychological therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) or mindfulness

Most people benefit from a range of different treatments and self-management, including:

• seeing a physiotherapist or exercise physiologist
• activity pacing
• exercise such as walking, swimming, cycling or tai chi
• improving your sleep
• eating a healthy diet

Talk to your doctor about developing a plan for managing your chronic pain. Many people find it helpful to seek advice and support from a few different types of health professionals as part of the plan.

Your doctor may also refer you to a pain management program at a pain clinic. This is available through most major public hospitals, and also privately.

Which medicines can help manage chronic pain?

Some medicines can play a role in managing chronic pain. The type of medicine your doctor recommends depends on factors such as:

• your medical history
• the type and severity of your pain
• your age
• how the medicine is taken

There are different medicines that can be used to help with chronic pain.

• Paracetamol — this very effective pain-relief medicine is sometimes taken along with other medicines. Do not take more than the daily dose listed on the package. Speak to your doctor if paracetamol is not managing your pain.
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) — medicines such as ibuprofen and diclofenac may help manage pain. Try to take them at the lowest possible dosage for the shortest possible time, as they can have serious side effects.
• Antidepressants — some medicines that are used to treat depression, such as amitriptyline, are also sometimes prescribed by doctors to reduce nerve pain.
• Anticonvulsant medicines — some medicines that are commonly used to treat epilepsy can also help manage nerve pain. They include pregabalin and gabapentin.
• Opioids — strong pain-relief medicines, such as morphine, fentanyl, oxycodone or codeine, might be prescribed by your doctor for short periods of time.

Sometimes, medicines won't relieve all your pain symptoms. It's important to work with a health professional to identify a range of strategies you can use. This can reduce the way pain impacts your life.

Are opioid medicines recommended for chronic pain?

Opioids are not usually recommended for most types of chronic pain. There is currently not enough evidence to show that opioids are safe or effective for treating chronic pain that is not caused by cancer.

Opioid medicines are associated with serious short- and long-term side effects, including tolerance and dependence.

Learn more about opioids.

Resources and support

Visit Painaustralia to:

• get information on chronic pain and pain management
• find pain services and programs in your area
• get support

The Pain Management Network has:

• a Pain Link Helpline — call 1300 340 357
• resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
• resources in other languages

Visit Chronic Pain Australia for support and information on chronic pain.

Visit the Australian Pain Society for information, including resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

You can also call the healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria). A registered nurse is available to speak with you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.