Chronic Pain: What Increases Your Risk

Content provided by Healthwise

What Increases Your Risk

Factors that may increase the risk of chronic pain include:

• Aging. Older adults are more likely to suffer from chronic conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, shingles, and other causes of nerve problems (neuropathy). However, chronic pain is not a normal part of growing older.
• Smoking. Nicotine use can increase pain and decrease the effectiveness of medicines.
• Health problems. These include:
  • Existing health conditions, such as fibromyalgia, shingles, arthritis, depression or anxiety disorders, or having a limb amputated (phantom limb pain).
  • Past health problems, such as joint injuries. Also, previous surgery may cause new pain or may not work to relieve pain (such as back surgery that does not relieve pain).
  • Overall general health condition. You may have a weakened immune system, which can lead to frequent infections or illness.
  • Conditions that are difficult to treat, such as nerve pain from shingles (postherpetic neuralgia).
• Lifestyle, such as not eating healthy foods, not exercising regularly, smoking, or having a substance abuse or alcohol dependency problem.

Other factors that may increase your risk for developing chronic pain include injury, stress, inactivity, relationship problems, or a history of physical, sexual, or emotional abuse. Daily activities that may contribute to chronic pain include repetitive motions at work or at home, such as lifting, or being in awkward positions for long periods of time.

Last updated:	February 22, 2007
Author:	Shannon Erstad, MBA/MPH
Reviewed By:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine, Nancy Greenwald, MD - Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Editors:	Kathleen M. Ariss, MS, Pat Truman, MATC