Pain is a normal, everyday part of life. We feel it when we push our muscles too hard in gym class or when we twist our ankle on a hike. But what about that nagging ache in your lower back that doesn’t go away? Or the sharp pain you have after eating certain foods? Chronic pain can be debilitating and frustrating, especially when it’s difficult to pinpoint the cause. So why do we experience chronic pain? Here are some common reasons:
Stress, Anxiety And Depression
Stress, anxiety and depression are common reasons for chronic pain. When you’re stressed out or depressed, your body releases cortisol which can increase pain and make it feel like you have more than you do.
Cortisol is a hormone that helps us deal with stressful situations by increasing blood pressure, heart rate and blood sugar levels (to give us energy). However when we are chronically stressed out, this hormone stays elevated in our bodies for extended periods of time causing all sorts of problems including increased inflammation which leads to more pain!
Injury From Trauma Or Overuse
One of the most common reasons for pain is injury, according to Dr Brian Blick. While injuries can be caused by trauma or overuse, they all share one thing in common: inflammation.
Injury causes inflammation because when you injure yourself, your body sends white blood cells to the area to fight off infection and clean up damaged tissue. Dr Brian Blick white blood cells release chemicals called cytokines which create an environment where more inflammatory chemicals can be produced. It’s this continuous cycle that keeps your body in pain long after you’ve stopped hurting yourself!
Medical Condition That Causes Chronic Pain
Chronic pain can be a symptom of an underlying medical condition. There are many different types of conditions that can cause chronic pain, including but not limited to:
• Arthritis (rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis)
• Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)
• Fibromyalgia
If you think that you may have a medical condition that is causing your pain, it’s important to get help right away. You don’t want to wait until the issue gets worse or goes away on its own–this could lead to more serious problems down the road!