What causes chronic pain?
Sometimes, chronic pain is caused by an old injury or infection, or by a disease. Sometimes there is no known cause for the pain.
Conditions that may trigger or cause chronic pain include:
- Infections
- Headaches or migraines
- Back problems
- Cancer
- Arthritis
- Fibromyalgia
- Nerve damage
- Previous surgery
Depression and stress tend to make pain worse, including chronic pain.
Bibliography
See a list of resources used in the development of this information.
Written by familydoctor.org editorial staff
Reviewed/Updated: 11/10
Created: 03/00