Definition Essay on Chronic Pain

Introduction

How can one tell that someone is in chronic pain when they see them for the first time? By the way the person physically expresses the pain is the popular answer one can get. If chronic pain could be defined from this perspective, then it would be inaccurate since people feel the ache in a variety of different ways. Chronic pain cannot be described since the concept is tough to explain. However, some people might argue that chronic pain is more intense, can paralyze a person and lasts longer than typical aches. Everyone has their understanding of the term. In my view, chronic pain is an unpleasant ache that is persistent and more intense and can cause psychological distress.

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The dictionary definition of the word chronic in relation to health refers to an obstinate condition that is constantly recurring. In light of this definition and relative to the term being defined, it is correct to assume that chronic pain is long lasting and does not heal quickly. The biological purpose of acute pain is to alert us on the occurrence of an injury to avoid further damage or perhaps seek medical help. Typically, any pain because of injury or illness should cool after some time and die off entirely on healing. Chronic pain has no biological purpose. Any pain that does not die off and persists for months or even more after healing is regarded as chronic pain. Chronic pain is more intense in aching than acute pain.

Pain is a subjective and personal experience, and no test can measure pain with precision. However, the fact is that pain is a result of tissue damage and is described relative to the extent of the damage. Chronic pain can be best understood by differentiating it from acute pain. Acute pain is common, and it is what one feels when they bruise or cut themselves. It is usually hot, sharp, stinging and well localized mostly associated with tenderness on the spot. Typically, acute pain has an identifiable temporal or causal relationship to injury or illness. Sometimes, acute pain can result from dysfunction in the nervous system. On the contrary, chronic pain is not common though many people suffer from the condition. It ensues after an injury has healed or at times develop without an identifiable cause.

Because chronic pain causes a lot of physical pain, it leads to psychological distress to the patient. It is known that physical pain and emotional discomfort go along with each other. Emotional distress is because of the effects of chronic pain that affects various aspects of an individual's normal life. While some patients may display normal psychological function when enduring pain, continued suffering and its effects such as distorted body image, or inability to work will cause psychological dysfunction. In some cases, psychopathology can ensue, including depressive personalities, hysterical, hypochondriacal behaviors. The psychological effects of chronic pain are felt inside the patient with an overwhelming feeling of sadness and depression.

Conclusion

In summary, it is difficult to arrive at any single definition of chronic pain. However, chronic pain is persistent, intense and can result in psychological distress. These distinctive features differentiate chronic pain from acute pain which is a complete opposite. In the end, it is apparent that chronic pain is overwhelming and a condition that subjects a patient to abject suffering.