Chronic Pain: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment | Health.com

Home
Chronic Pain
Chronic Pain

Featured Stories

Living With Sickle Cell Disease Is a Constant Battle With Pain, According to One Woman Who Has It

Living With Sickle Cell Disease Is a Constant Battle With Pain, According to One Woman Who Has It

People always tell Danielle Jamison, 35, that she "doesn't look sick." But the genetic blood disorder she's battled since childhood makes day-to-day life a challenge.

Before She Was Diagnosed With Small Fiber Polyneuropathy, Doctors Misdiagnosed This Woman's Pain for 18 Years

Before She Was Diagnosed With Small Fiber Polyneuropathy, Doctors Misdiagnosed This Woman's Pain for 18 Years

Have you ever wanted to escape your own body? Jenna Birch, 28, has—thanks to the crippling pain she's experienced since childhood, which doctors misdiagnosed as fibromyalgia, along with irritable bowel syndrome and a menstrual disorder.

5 Women Share What It's Like to Have a Chronic Illness During the Coronavirus Pandemic

5 Women Share What It's Like to Have a Chronic Illness During the Coronavirus Pandemic

What women with chronic illness want healthy people to know during the COVID-19 crisis.

The Best CBD Creams for Pain, According to Experts

The Best CBD Creams for Pain, According to Experts

Plus, important considerations when choosing and using CBD topicals.

Here’s What Experts Want You to Know About Living With Chronic Pain

Here’s What Experts Want You to Know About Living With Chronic Pain

Much about chronic pain remains a mystery—but there are research-backed remedies that can help. Here’s why doctors are hopeful about the diagnosis.

You Can Now Buy Pumpkin Spice CBD—So I Tried It for My Chronic Pain

I Tried Pumpkin Spice CBD Oil to Treat My Chronic Pain—Here's What Happened

Is pumpkin spice and CBD oil the magical wellness combo you've been waiting for?

More on Chronic Pain

Every Question You Have About CBD—Answered

Every Question You Have About CBD—Answered

Like, uh, will it get you high?

13 Causes of Leg Cramps–and How To Stop Them

13 Causes of Leg Cramps–and How To Stop Them

These sudden, involuntary muscle contractions are common and usually harmless, but they can be excruciatingly painful. We asked experts to explain what causes leg cramps and how you can avoid them in the future.

14 Reasons Your Tooth Hurts

14 Reasons Your Tooth Hurts

12 Reasons You Have Shoulder Pain–and What to Do About It

12 Reasons You Have Shoulder Pain–and What to Do About It

18 Sciatica Treatments That Really Work

18 Sciatica Treatments That Really Work

11 Things to Know About Pot and Your Health

11 Things to Know About Pot and Your Health

People Living With Chronic Pain Are Turning to This Support Group for Help

Debilitating pain made these women feel depressed and suicidal—until they joined Chronic Pain Anonymous, a 12-step fellowship that offers hope.

All Chronic Pain

What Does It Mean When You Pop or Pull Your Calf Muscle?

What Does It Mean When You Pop or Pull Your Calf Muscle?

What Is Arnica Gel, and Can It Really Help Reduce Pain?

What Is Arnica Gel, and Can It Really Help Reduce Pain?

'I've Lived With Chronic Pain for Years—and It's Made My Relationship Stronger'

'I've Lived With Chronic Pain for Years—and It's Made My Relationship Stronger'

11 Reasons Your Neck Hurts—and What to Do About It

11 Reasons Your Neck Hurts—and What to Do About It

This New Mom Failed a Drug Test—and Could Have Had Her Baby Taken Away—Because of a Poppy-Seed Bagel

Yes, Poppy-Seed Bagels Really Can Make You Fail a Drug Test. Here's Why, and How Much You Have to Eat

7 Surprising Ways People Are Using CBD Oil—and What Doctors Really Think About It

7 Surprising Ways People Are Using CBD Oil—and What Doctors Really Think About It

Prescription Drug Take Back Day Is Saturday. Here's Why It's So Important

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day Is Saturday. Here's Why It's So Important

I Have a Chronic Pain Syndrome Dubbed the ‘Suicide Disease’—Here’s How I've Learned to Embrace Life

I Have a Chronic Pain Syndrome Dubbed the ‘Suicide Disease’—Here’s How I've Learned to Embrace Life

12 Reasons You Might Have Cramps That Have Nothing to Do With Your Period

12 Reasons You Might Have Cramps That Have Nothing to Do With Your Period

What to Know About CBD Oil and Chronic Pain

What to Know About CBD Oil and Chronic Pain

Jaw Pain? Here's Everything You Need to Know About TMJ

Jaw Pain? Here's Everything You Need to Know About TMJ

Get Rid of Neck Pain With These Physical-Therapist Approved Moves

Get Rid of Neck Pain With These Physical-Therapist Approved Moves

14 Reasons Your Feet Hurt–and How to Ease the Pain

14 Reasons Your Feet Hurt–and How to Ease the Pain

10 Things You Should Never Say to Someone With a Chronic Illness—Seriously

10 Things You Should Never Say to Someone With a Chronic Illness—Seriously

Basic Painkillers Are Just As Effective as Opioids, Study Finds

Basic Painkillers Are Just As Effective as Opioids, Study Finds

14 Drug-Free Ways to Ease Chronic Pain

14 Drug-Free Ways to Ease Chronic Pain

The Opioid Opana ER Is Being Taken Off the Market

The Opioid Opana ER Is Being Taken Off the Market

What to Know About Still’s Disease, the Potentially Life-Threatening Condition in 'The Big Sick'

What to Know About Still’s Disease, the Potentially Life-Threatening Condition in 'The Big Sick'

The FDA Wants This Opioid Drug Pulled From the Market

The FDA Wants This Opioid Drug Pulled From the Market

7 Ways Inflammation Affects Your Body

7 Ways Inflammation Affects Your Body

For Hip Pain, This Drug-Free Technique May Work as Well as Steroid Injections

For Hip Pain, This Drug-Free Technique May Work as Well as Steroid Injections

9 Things You Never Knew About Chronic Pain

9 Things You Never Knew About Chronic Pain

If You Take Ibuprofen Often, Read This

If You Take Ibuprofen Often, Read This

Heat or Ice? Which to Use for Back Pain, Pulled Muscles, and More

Heat or Ice? Which to Use for Back Pain, Pulled Muscles, and More

5 Moves to Prevent Knee Pain

5 Moves to Prevent Knee Pain