Millions of people in the UK are said to be living in 'horrific' pain every day in what experts are calling a 'silent epidemic'.
Chronic pain often goes undiagnosed, with many people underestimating the seriousness of the condition. It's one of the biggest causes of disability in the UK, and is hugely disruptive to people who suffer from it.
And according to National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), women are more likely than men to experience or report chronic pain.
The Mirror reports that GB News presenter Eamonn Holmes has documented his struggles with the condition, calling his experience over the past two years "soul-destroying".
His was caused by a dislocated pelvis and a trapped sciatic nerve, among many other health concerns.
Here's a closer look at the condition, including the causes and treatments.
What is chronic pain?
The NHS says: “Chronic or persistent pain is pain that carries on for longer than 12 weeks despite medication or treatment”.
Most people get back to normal after pain following an injury or operation. But sometimes the pain carries on for longer or comes on without any history of an injury or operation.
Chronic pain can also affect people living with:
diabetes
arthritis
fibromyalgia
irritable bowel
back pain
What causes chronic pain?
There are many possible causes of chronic pain, says NICE. It may be caused by:
An acute injury
An ongoing degenerative illness
A primary condition
Surgery or medical interventions
Some of the pain may be described as a burning, tingling, shooting or a numb sensation.
People may also experience extreme sensitivity to things like touch and temperature - it's all part of how the body copes with chronic pain.
How to prevent chronic pain
Scientific research shows pain lasting longer than three months is likely to be due to changes in the nervous system, says one NHS musculoskeletal service.
Because of this, x-rays and scans aren't often needed as they can be negative or inconclusive, unable to detect the pain.
Things you can do to help yourself include:
Learning about the causes of persistent pain
Remain active by planning, prioritising and pacing your activities
Talk to friends and family about how they can support you to stay active
Learning ways to improve your mental health
Using meditation and or relaxation techniques
Improving your sleep
Speak to your employer about ways of adapting your role / work environment.
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