Pain syndrome
Chronic, Regional Pain Syndrome
Pain syndrome is a complicated ailment which depends on multiple issues; managing pain syndrome is till date a big challenge for the health care providers. The intensity and symptoms of pain syndrome may vary from one victim to another and it depends largely on some intricate factors like complicated case history, general non-responsiveness to pain managing therapy and obscure etiology. However Pain syndrome is also known as chronic pain syndrome [CPS] and it is a controversial from its definition aspect. In general, the pain which persists longer than expected recovery time after due treatment is considered as chronic pain and the spell of chronic pain is called pain syndrome or chronic pain syndrome.
While acute pain is a protective mechanism of body, chronic pain has no psychological role to play in recovery.
However, unlike acute pain, chronic pain syndrome is not a symptom but it is a disease. There are some triggering situations which may lead to CPS. Some prime triggers of chronic pain syndrome are mentioned here.
- Headache [cluster, migraine, cervicogenic tension type,]
- Chronic postoperative pain [neuroma formation, post-thoracotomy pain, neuropraxia]
- Neck/Shoulder pain [whiplash, fibromyalgia, cervical radiculopathy,)
- Low back pain [lumbar radiculopathy, facet syndrome, spinal stenosis, myofascial pain]
- Musculoskeletal pain [soft tissue injury, fibromyalgia, myofascial pain syndrome, arthritis)
- Naturopathic pain [post-herpetic neuralgia, phantom limb pain, chronic regional pain syndrome I and II, diabetic neuropathy]
Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is like chronic pain syndrome but this pain is felt only in arms or in legs. The pain felt in CRPS is marked by aching pain or burning sensation. The aching point may suffer from problems like swelling, discoloration of skin, and hypersensitivity in the affected area. In case of regional pain syndrome early prognosis and relevant treatment can control the intensity of this disease.
There are different risk factors involved with the problem of Chronic Pain Syndrome; people suffering from CPS may develop depression or anxiety as a result of the health complications.
Some of the common symptoms of CPS are intense headache, pain, muscle pain, back pain, chronic cramping, and neuropathic pain etc.
Doctors take complete account of the detail case history of pain syndrome in case of a patient diagnosed with CPS. However, case history can reveal the fact of induction of pain syndrome and its possible way out to control the intensity of pain.