Pain Summary Pain is a feeling triggered in the nervous system. Pain may be sharp or dull. It may come and go, or it may be constant. You may feel pain in one area of your body, such as your back, abdomen or chest or you may feel pain all over, such as when your muscles ache from the flu. Pain can be helpful in diagnosing a problem. Without pain, you might seriously hurt yourself without knowing it, or you might not realize you have a medical problem that needs treatment. Once you take care of the problem, pain usually goes away. However, sometimes pain goes on for weeks, months or even years. This is called chronic pain. Sometimes chronic pain is due to an ongoing cause, such as cancer or arthritis. Sometimes the cause is unknown. Fortunately, there are many ways to treat pain. Treatment varies depending on the cause of pain. Pain relievers, acupuncture and sometimes surgery are helpful. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Array Aches and pains during pregnancy Feeling pain Neuralgia Palliative care – managing pain NIH MedlinePlus Magazine Block That Pain! NIH Research on Treating Pain Team Approach to Pain Relief Health Check Tools Burning Sensation of the Extremities DSHI Systems Generalized Body Aches DSHI Systems Scalp Pain DSHI Systems Clinical Trials ClinicalTrials.gov: Pain National Institutes of Health ClinicalTrials.gov: Pain Management National Institutes of Health ClinicalTrials.gov: Pain Perception National Institutes of Health Living With Daily Pain Diary American Geriatrics Society Pain Management Programs American Chronic Pain Association Quality of Life Scale: A Measure of Function for People with Pain American Chronic Pain Association Start Here Definitions and Types of Pain Beth Israel Medical Center, Department of Pain Medicine and Palliative Care Pain: Hope through Research National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Seniors Eldercare at Home: Pain AGS Foundation for Health in Aging Pain: You Can Get Help National Institute on Aging Statistics and Research Facts and Figures on Pain American Academy of Pain Medicine Untangling the Source of Ouch and Itch National Institute of General Medical Sciences Find an Expert Find a Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Physician American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke NIH Pain Consortium NIH Pain Consortium Genetics Genetics Home Reference: congenital insensitivity to pain National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: erythromelalgia National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: paroxysmal extreme pain disorder National Library of Medicine Related Issues Going to the ER American Chronic Pain Association Pain and Depression: Is There a Link? Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Pain Information Brochure NIH Pain Consortium Somatoform Disorders American Academy of Family Physicians Using Alcohol to Relieve Your Pain: What Are the Risks? National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Encyclopedia Groin pain Muscle aches Treatments and Therapies Magnets for Pain Relief National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health Massage: Get in Touch with Its Many Health Benefits Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Medicines for Pain: From Osteoarthritis to Muscle Pain Array MedlinePlus: Pain Relievers National Library of Medicine Non-Drug Pain Relief: Imagery Ohio State University Medical Center Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment American Osteopathic Association Pain National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health Women Pain Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health Diagnosis and Tests Pain Assessment Beth Israel Medical Center, Department of Pain Medicine and Palliative Care Journal Articles Pain Children Why Do I Have Pain? Nemours Foundation Latest News Acetaminophen Won’t Help Arthritis Pain, Study Finds HealthDay Many Take Opioids Months After Hip, Knee Replacements HealthDay Freezing Technique May Ease ‘Phantom Limb’ Pain for Amputees HealthDay
