Chronic Pain: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
Medically reviewed by Sumiran Racherla, MD, Internal Medicine. Last reviewed: October 23, 2026.
What kind of doctor treats Chronic Pain?
A pain management specialist, a doctor who focuses on long-lasting pain, often helps lead care. Your team may also include nurses, mental health providers, and physical or occupational therapists. A direct primary care or concierge doctor can be a first stop for an evaluation and can refer you to a specialist when needed.
What is chronic pain?
Chronic pain is pain that lasts longer than three months. It also counts as chronic if it lasts longer than the time your body should take to heal. It can happen most days or every day. It may last for weeks, months, or even years.
Acute pain is different. Acute pain starts suddenly and goes away when its cause is treated or healed. Sometimes acute pain becomes chronic pain. In other cases, chronic pain happens for no known reason.
Chronic pain can affect your mood, your relationships, and your daily life.
Symptoms
Each person feels pain in a different way. Pain can feel like pricking, tingling, stinging, burning, shooting, or aching. It can be mild or severe. You may feel it in one area of your body or all over.
Chronic pain can also cause other problems, such as:
- Fatigue.
- Mood changes.
- Trouble sleeping.
- Strong feelings such as anger, worry, sadness, or hopelessness.
Depression or stress can make chronic pain worse.
Causes and who gets it
Chronic pain can start after an injury or an infection. Some people have an ongoing cause, such as arthritis or cancer. In some cases, there is no clear cause. Mood and stress can make chronic pain worse.
Nerve damage can also cause pain. Doctors call this neuropathic pain. Diabetic neuropathy, shingles, and sciatica are examples of conditions that cause it.
Nociplastic pain is pain caused by changes in how the nervous system processes pain. Fibromyalgia is an example.
Many older adults have chronic pain. Women also report having more chronic pain than men. You may be more likely to have it if you have headaches or migraines, cancer, fibromyalgia, arthritis, nerve damage, or back problems.
How doctors diagnose it
Only you can say how much pain you feel and how it affects your life. If the cause is not known, your health care provider may ask about your medical history. They may ask you to describe the pain. They will do a physical exam. They may also order blood tests or other medical tests.
Imaging tests, such as an MRI, a CT scan, or an ultrasound, give a look inside the body. Doctors may also use electrodiagnostic procedures, such as nerve conduction studies and electromyography, to help find the cause of pain.
Treatment
Chronic pain is not always curable, but treatments can help. Treatment may not get rid of chronic pain, but it can help with your symptoms. No single treatment works for every person, so care often combines several approaches. A pain care team may include pain specialists, nurses, mental health providers, and physical or occupational therapists.
- Medicines, including pain relievers such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and naproxen. Some antidepressant and antiseizure medicines can help nerve pain.
- Physical therapy, which can help a person recover after injury or surgery and manage chronic pain. It can include low-impact cardio, mobility, flexibility, and strength training.
- Talk therapy, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, which builds skills to cope with pain. Counseling and biofeedback can also help.
- Acupuncture, which can improve pain in some people.
- Procedures such as nerve blocks, which use a local anesthetic to pause pain messages for a short time. Surgery can help when pain comes from something that surgery can fix.
- Lifestyle changes, such as managing stress, reaching a healthy weight, and adding low-impact exercise.
When to see a doctor
A health care provider can help if your pain lasts longer than three months or continues after your body should have healed.
Call 911 or go to the emergency room if you have sudden, severe pain anywhere in the body, chest pain lasting two minutes or more, trouble breathing, fainting, or sudden weakness or change in vision.
How a direct primary care or concierge doctor fits in
A direct primary care doctor charges a flat monthly fee instead of billing insurance, while a concierge doctor usually charges more and often works alongside insurance. Either kind of doctor can ask about your medical history, ask you to describe your pain, do a physical exam, and order tests. People living with pain should work with their healthcare team to decide which treatments might be best for them.
Common questions
Can chronic pain be cured?
Not always. Chronic pain is not always curable, but treatments can help. Treatment may not get rid of the pain, but it can help with your symptoms.
How long does pain have to last to be chronic?
Pain is called chronic when it lasts longer than three months. It is also chronic when it lasts longer than the time you should have healed.
Can stress make chronic pain worse?
Yes. Mood and stress can make chronic pain worse. Getting support for feelings such as worry or sadness has been shown to improve chronic pain symptoms, such as muscle tension.
Who is more likely to get chronic pain?
Many older adults have chronic pain. Women also report having more chronic pain than men. Conditions such as arthritis, cancer, and nerve damage can raise the chance.
Sources
Medical Disclaimer
This content is for general educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and reading it does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions about a medical condition, and never disregard or delay seeking professional advice because of something you read here. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911 (or your local emergency number) immediately.
