Pain Quiz

If you're not sure whether the pain you have is 'chronic pain' then the following questions and answers from WebMD.com (see link below) should help you decide. It's a general post and doesn't go into the sort of pain you have or its causes. There is that grey area with neuropathy, between tingling and numbness which you don't consider to be chronic and the burning pain and muscular aches that can wake you up at night, so looking at some of these questions and answers may help.

Pain Management Health Center

Health Quiz

Is Pain Interfering With Your Life?

Assess the impact of chronic pain.

1) Has your pain lasted three months or longer?

If your pain lasts three months or more, it may be chronic pain. Chronic pain lasts longer than doctors would reasonably expect after an illness or injury has healed. In fact, pain signals may continue to fire in the nervous system for months or even years. Chronic pain can stem from low back problems, arthritis, headaches, fibromyalgia, and nervous system disorders, as well as other causes. Some scientist believe that chronic pain itself represents an illness, which can be made worse by both the environment and emotions.

2) Does pain cause you to feel depressed, anxious, angry, or fatigued?

Chronic pain strikes many areas of life, including your emotions. Left untreated, constant pain can leave you feeling depressed, anxious, angry, and frustrated. You may also have a sense of fatigue, lowered motivation, and reduced libido.

3) Does being in pain hurt your relationships with family and friends?

If you have a broken arm, people will sympathize. But that's not always true with an "invisible" condition like chronic pain. Often, people with chronic pain withdraw socially because they feel alone and misunderstood. They may decline invitations, and their pain-related problems can strain family relationships and damage careers.

4) Do you limit your activities because of pain?

If you avoid certain activities because of pain, you may lose mobility, flexibility, and strength. As a result, even minor activities can prompt pain. People with chronic pain often have trouble with daily activities and become dependent on others.

5) Does pain affect your appetite?

In some cases, chronic pain can cause poor appetite, often as a symptom of depression

6) Does pain keep you awake at night?

About two-thirds of people with chronic pain report getting poor sleep. Pain and insomnia are linked. While sharp pain can rouse you from slumber, even mild pain can cause several "microarousals" that leave you feeling tired when you wake up. Also, some pain drugs can disrupt sleep.

7) Do you use alcohol to cope with pain or sleeplessness?

Some people use alcohol to cope with chronic pain or help them fall asleep. But alcohol shouldn't be used with pain medicines. Also, alcohol is not a good sleep aid -- it actually disrupts sleep. Talk to your health care provider if you are using or feel like using alcohol to self-medicate. Your health care provider can offer safer treatment options.

8) Have you discussed your pain with your doctor?

If chronic pain interferes with your quality of life, consider talking to your doctor about treatments that can offer relief. These include medications, acupuncture, surgery, local electrical stimulation, brain stimulation, nerve blocks, psychotherapy, biofeedback, behavior modification, and relaxation techniques. Ask, too, about outpatient pain rehabilitation programs that offer effective treatments for chronic pain.

http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/quiz-chronic-pain-10-results?q2=a&q3=a&q4=a&q5=a&q6=a&q7=b&q8=a&cobrand=mywebmd