Chronic pain is pain that persists or recurs for longer than 3 months. It is also described as burning, electrical, throbbing, or nauseating pain. This type of pain contrasts with acute pain, which is associated with a specific cause, typically resolves when the cause is treated, and decreases over time. Chronic pain can last for years. Persistent pain often serves no apparent useful purpose.
The most common types of chronic pain include back pain, severe headache, migraine, and facial pain. Chronic pain can lead to severe psychological and physical effects that may persist for a lifetime. Physical complications can include damage to brain neurons (grey matter loss), insomnia and sleep deprivation, metabolic disorders, chronic stress, obesity, and heart attack. Mental health consequences may include depression and neurocognitive disorders.