Chronic Pain

Regardless of the source, living with chronic pain can be both challenging and disruptive. Learn more about the symptoms, causes, and treatments for a variety of pain types that interfer with a person's day-to-day life.

Chronic Pain Basics

Overview Illustration - Chronic Pain
Chronic Pain Overview

Pain Relief and Treatment

The CDC Proposed New Guidelines for Opioid Use and Pain Management
CDC Releases New Prescription Opioid Guidelines for Treating Pain

Explore Chronic Pain

A woman holds her neck in pain while in the driver's seat of her car
What Is Whiplash?
A woman lies on her couch with a hand over her lower belly
What Can Cause Lower Abdominal Pain?
Person with swollen feet putting on shoes
Edema (Swelling): Causes, Treatment, and More
A woman stands in her kitchen and holds her stomach in pain
Why You May Have Abdominal Pain—And How to Make It Go Away
Nurse helping woman with ehler-danlos syndrome use walker in hospital hallway
What Is Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome?
woman having tmj jaw pain
Signs and Symptoms of Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Disorder
man holding his lower back in pain
Lower Back Pain Causes and Treatment
woman in a satin sleep shirt sitting on the bed holding her back
What is Degenerative Disc Disease?
A healthcare provider looks at a child's back to examine the curvature of the spine
What Is Scoliosis?
A person hold their hands to their ankle, which is red
What Is Inflammation?
Health Photo Composite - Achilles Tendinitis
Everything You Need to Know About Achilles Tendinitis
A woman sits on the edge of her bed holding her lower back in pain
Why Back Spasms Happen—And How to Treat Them
A black woman with muscle pain in her shoulder
Everything You Need to Know About Muscle Pain
A patient using a pain scale
Understanding Pain Scales and How to Use Them
How-To-Remove-A-Ring-From-A-Swollen-Finger-GettyImages-152405742
How to Get a Ring Off a Swollen Finger—And When It's an Emergency
Checking Out Cannabis Bud Products
Pros and Cons of Weed—11 Possible Effects on Your Health
woman sitting on couch suffering from backache
Chronic Pain Is Extremely Common in the US—And New Cases Are ‘Developing at Alarming Rates’
A black woman experiencing jaw pain at the dentist's office
Everything You Need to Know About Jaw Pain
A woman doing inversion therapy hanging upside down in an inversion table
Everything You Need to Know About Inversion Tables
Tan Compression socks against a green background
Shoppers Say These $12 Compression Socks Provide 'Instant Relief' From Plantar Fasciitis Pain
Young woman hiking with numb tingling leg
13 Causes of Leg Cramps—and How To Stop Them
Butt Cramps on Your Period: Why It Happens and How To Ease the Pain
cbd cannabinoid woman health wellbeing weed marijuana cannabis pain natural herb plant balm vape supplement pill oil tincture edible gummy
What Are the Health Benefits of CBD—Cannabidiol?
Middle aged businesswoman rubbing neck, suffering from neck pain during workplace at home
9 Fibromyalgia Pain Points
Back view woman covering her face
Degenerative Disc Disease Was Causing My Crippling Back Pain, but Doctors Blamed My Posture, My Purse, Even MS
What Is Tendinitis? Experts Explain This Painful Condition
This Woman’s Pain Was Dismissed for Years—Here Are 5 Things She Wants You to Know About Getting the Right Care
This Woman Was Diagnosed With Lupus After Having Her Daily Pain Dismissed for Years
Woman running outside
14 Foot Pain Causes and How To Ease the Pain
shoulder-pain
12 Reasons You Have Shoulder Pain–and What to Do About It
heat-ice-intro
Heat or Ice? Which to Use for Back Pain, Pulled Muscles, and More
01-runners-knee-pain-feature
Everything You Need to Know About Runner's Knee—Even If You're Not a Runner
Shot of an attractive young woman suffering from period cramps while lying in a fetal position on her bed. misdiagnosed-polyneuropathy
Before She Was Diagnosed With Small Fiber Polyneuropathy, Doctors Misdiagnosed This Woman's Pain for 18 Years
Real Women Share How They Got Doctors to Take Their Pain Seriously
How 5 Women Suffering Dangerous Health Symptoms Finally Got Their Doctors to Take Them Seriously
why-does-my-teeth-hurt.jpg
13 Reasons Your Tooth Hurts
irritable-bowel-syndrome-ibs-stomach-pain
12 Reasons You Might Have Abdominal Cramps Other Than Your Period
poppy-seed-bagel-drug-test
Yes, Poppy-Seed Bagels Really Can Make You Fail a Drug Test. Here's Why, and How Much You Have to Eat
support-group
People Living With Chronic Pain Are Turning to This Support Group for Help
senior-couple-bed-sex-pain
How People in Pain Can Revive Their Sex Lives
pain-back
Back Trouble? Blue Dye Shot May Offer Long-Lasting Pain Relief
snow-shoveling-back-injury
Shoveling Snow? How to Protect Your Back (and Your Heart)
patricia-skiba
I Survived a Life of Too Much Pain and No Sleep
woman-sensitive-pain
How Women's Pain Differs from Men's
Voting While Disabled , People voting in polling place
The In-Person Voting Challenges Faced by Chronically Ill and Disabled American Voters
dr-robert-bonakdar
Expert Answers on Complementary Therapies for Chronic Pain
spouse-caregiver-chronic-pain
How Caregivers Can Be Effective Cancer Painkillers
06-back-pain-ovarian-cancer
What Causes Back Pain?
Card Placeholder Image
How to Decide if Surgery Can Solve Your Low Back Pain
478480657.jpg
Like to Bike? This Could Save Your Life
arnica-gel-arnican
What Is Arnica Gel, and Can It Really Help Reduce Pain?
types-of-arthritis
The Most Common Types of Arthritis, and Who's at Risk for Each
drink-coffee-if-driving-drowsy.jpg
5 Ways Your Commute Is Hurting Your Health
muffin-fibro
10 Food Rules for Pain Patients
danger-high-heels.jpg
Are Your Clothes Killing You?
four-hands-puzzle-pieces-together
Strategies for Coping With Chronic Pain
woman-sleeping-bed-200x150.jpg
Sleep Problems Triple Women's Risk of Developing Fibromyalgia
foam-roll-back-pain
How To Use a Foam Roller To Relieve Your Back Pain
high-heels.jpg
How Wearing High Heels Can Actually Be Good for You...Until It's Not
get-doctor-to-listen
How to Actually Get Your Doctor to Listen to You
choose-a-doctor-illustration
4 Specialists That Can Help Your Back and How to Pick One
hip-pain-join--pain-workout
For Hip Pain, This Drug-Free Technique May Work as Well as Steroid Injections
mri-xray-spine-lower-back-pain
When Should You Have an MRI for Your Back Pain?
doctor-crossed-arms
How to Get Your Doctor to Take Your Pain Seriously
high-heels.jpg
5 Ways to Keep Your High Heels From Ruining Your Feet