By Betty Russell, Pure Matters Chronic pain, whether it comes
and goes or is constant, makes it impossible to do your normal
activities without discomfort. Chronic pain can be the result of
an injury, illness or medical condition, or its cause may be
unknown. Yet, most people with chronic pain can lessen it to
tolerable levels, regardless of the cause, according to the
American Chronic Pain Association. These are common types of
chronic pain: Pain and inflammation may actually change the
nervous system. Because of this, pain may linger long after the
physical injury that caused it has healed. Living with chronic
pain can lure you into feeling helpless about your condition. It
can cause emotional problems or physical limitations that
threaten your relationships, hamper your job performance and
limit your activities. Anxiety, depression, anger, hopelessness
or desperation about the pain can make it seem worse. This can,
in turn, alter your personality and disrupt family and work
relationships. Chronic pain can