About chronic pain
Why does my pain persist?
“The experience of pain is very individual, and it’s important to remember that this is your body and your pain.”
Many people who live with chronic pain can be led to believe that the pain is all in their head. This is untrue! Chronic pain is a condition of the nervous system. Under normal conditions, pain serves a short-term protective function that resolves with healing. However, when pain persists for three or more months, it moves into the realm of a condition that not only has no benefit, but impacts a person’s ability to work, move, sleep, enjoy social or family time and can cause emotional distress.
The reason pain persists is caused by a reprogramming of the nervous system, where pain signals become more frequent, amplified, and can go off without warning. When reprogramming of the nervous system occurs, the nervous system goes into an ongoing state of “high alert.” For some people this may mean that if you sit for too long or move too much, you experience an increase in pain. Some people’s pain can even be triggered by a change in weather or for no reason at all. Many people in chronic pain share stories about finding some temporary respite when with good friends, having a laugh, or doing something they love, like playing music.
What are the types of chronic pain?
There are hundreds of types of chronic pain conditions which can be more broadly categorised into either nociceptive, neuropathic or nociplastic pain.
To complicate matters, it is not uncommon to have a “mix” of pain types. Your pain management is never decided on by pain type alone, but it can be an important factor in guiding evidenced based treatment and management strategies.
Nociceptive pain can be thought of as pain associated with tissue injury or damage or even potential damage. Nociceptors are sensory endings on nerves that can be excited or sensitised and signal potential tissue damage. Examples of different types of chronic nociceptive pain include osteoarthritis, pelvic pain, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis.
Neuropathic pain is pain associated with injury or disease of nerve tissue. People often get this type of pain when they have shingles, sciatica, neck or back radiculopathy, trigeminal neuralgia, or diabetic neuropathy.
Nociplastic pain is defined as ‘pain that arises from altered nociception despite no clear evidence of actual or threatened tissue damage causing the activation of peripheral nociceptors or evidence for disease or lesion of the somatosensory system causing the pain’. This type of pain may reflect changes in the way the nervous and immune systems function. Examples of different types of chronic nociplastic pain include Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), Fibromyalgia, and non-specific lower back pain.
What is chronic pain management?
Chronic pain is often referred to as an ‘invisible illness’ where you can feel pain 24/7, however externally people might think you don’t look unwell. Living with pain has an impact on all parts of a person’s life. Some of our members living with pain have described learning techniques for ‘managing’ their pain which allowed them to gradually take back their lives and return to meaningful, and enjoyable activities in life with a pain reduction.
One of the best forms of pain management is through something called a biological–psychological-social multidisciplinary management approach. This means that a “whole person” approach is considered and assists in guiding how your pain can be best managed. To be successful pain managers, we may have to use a combination of strategies such as medications, movement, diet, relaxation, thinking strategies, and more.
The multidisciplinary management approach means that you might need to draw on the skills of different health professionals to support your pain management. It is important to actively search for health professionals that take the time to understand you and your individualised needs. It is important to acknowledge not all healthcare providers understand chronic pain management.
Good pain management should include:
- Developing personalised and realistic goals
- Developing a pain management plan that includes team-based care arrangements
- Improving your knowledge and understanding of chronic pain
- Supporting your skills and application of self-managing chronic pain
- Reviewing and modifying your pain management plan
The Painful Truth
Chronic pain affects over 3.6 million Australians and is the leading cause of disability.
There is a lack of awareness in education, support, and training for health consumers who live with chronic pain and healthcare professionals treating chronic pain.
Only 1 in 100 Australians living with chronic pain can access multidisciplinary pain management.
Chronic pain treatment and management are severely underfunded, with most Australians unable to afford out of pocket expenses.
As a nation, the annual cost of chronic pain will rise from $139.3 billion in 2018 to an estimated $215.6 billion by 2050.
Videos & webinars
As the consumer voice of chronic pain in Australia, we encourage all our members and supporters to join us in advocating for better awareness, access and affordability.
The materials and resources on this page can be shared via your own social media channels or used for your own local advocacy efforts.
National Pain Week 2022
AAA Video
Chronic Pain Australia believes that a Triple AAA economy should deliver Triple A standards of care, which is why we’re launching our Triple A campaign promoting Awareness, Accessibility and Affordability this National Pain Week.
AAA Video
Chronic Pain Australia believes that a Triple AAA economy should deliver Triple A standards of care, which is why we’re launching our Triple A campaign promoting Awareness, Accessibility and Affordability this National Pain Week.
AAA Video
Chronic Pain Australia believes that a Triple AAA economy should deliver Triple A standards of care, which is why we’re launching our Triple A campaign promoting Awareness, Accessibility and Affordability this National Pain Week.
National Pain Week 2021
Daniel's Story
After breaking eight bones in his right foot, hear Daniel’s journey about living with chronic pain.
Megan's Story
Listen to Megan’s inspirational story as she lives with endometriosis, adenomyosis, and polycystic ovarian syndrome.
Kate's Story
Kate is a pharmacist and a mother, living with chronic pain for around ten years. Listen to how she balances living with chronic pain, as well as motherhood.
Videos & webinars
As the consumer voice of chronic pain in Australia, we encourage all our members and supporters to join us in advocating for better awareness, access and affordability.
The materials and resources on this page can be shared via your own social media channels or used for your own local advocacy efforts.
Mr Pain Podcast
Mr Pain is hosted by Brent Hedley and powered by Chronic Pain Australia, Australia’s national voice for those who live with chronic pain.
Introducing Mr Pain, a podcast devoted to supporting Australian men who live with chronic pain. Season 1 of Mr Pain explores the concept of Dads in Pain – how pain often intersects with family life and what men who manage chronic pain can do to help us be the best fathers, partners, brothers, or sons that we can be.
Chronic Pain Factsheets
National Pain Survey Results
Support services
Chronic Pain Australia cannot offer clinical advice to individuals or their families living with chronic pain. We can, however, connect you to updated information or services that can support or assist you in managing your pain experience better. Depending on your circumstances, you may find the following information helpful.
