What is chronic pain?

Chronic pain can affect how you sleep, move, work, and connect with other people, and it often comes with stress, worry, or low mood. It is also very common, with estimates suggesting around 1 in 5 adults live with chronic pain. [4] The good news is that many people can improve function and quality of life with active, skills-based care, even if pain does not disappear overnight.^{1 4}

What are the symptoms of chronic pain?

• Pain that lasts or keeps coming back for more than 3 months¹
• Aching, soreness, or throbbing that makes everyday tasks harder¹
• Burning, tingling, “electric,” or shooting pain (sometimes with numbness)¹
• Pain that flares with stress, poor sleep, or too much or too little activity^{1 4}
• Trouble sleeping, fatigue, or feeling “worn down” ^{1 4}
• Fear of movement, avoiding activities, or feeling on edge about symptoms^{1 4}
• Feeling irritable, low, or overwhelmed by the ongoing effort of managing pain⁴

What causes chronic pain?

Chronic pain is not always a sign that your body is “still damaged.” Sometimes it starts with an injury or a health condition, but over time the nervous system can become more protective and sensitive, which can make pain stick around.^{1 3 4}

Common factors that can contribute to chronic pain or flare-ups include:

• An underlying condition (like arthritis, nerve problems, endometriosis, or lingering pain after surgery or injury)³
• Lower activity over time (deconditioning), plus a “boom and bust” cycle of doing too much on good days and crashing later¹
• Poor sleep, ongoing stress, or high life demands that keep the body in a more reactive state^{1 4}
• Low mood or anxiety, and patterns like fear of movement or feeling stuck and helpless about pain^{1 4}
• Smoking, weight-related strain, and other health factors that can raise overall sensitivity and slow recovery⁴

When should I see a doctor?

It is a good idea to check in with a clinician if your pain is new, getting worse fast, or you are unsure what is causing it. Seek urgent care if you have any of these red flags:

How is chronic pain treated?

Most people do best with active, step-by-step care that builds strength, confidence, and daily function, rather than relying on a single “quick fix.” For many people, meaningful changes in pain interference and function can begin over 6 to 12 weeks, but lasting progress often takes longer and improves with continued practice and support. [1][5][6]

Typical treatment options include:

• Education and activity support. Learning how chronic pain works, how to pace, and how to return to valued activities in a steady way (without “pushing through” or shutting down).^{1 3}
• Exercise-based rehabilitation. A plan that may include walking or other cardio, strengthening, and gradual exposure to movements you have started avoiding. Exercise tends to help pain and function with low risk when it is progressed safely.^{1 5}
• Psychological therapies (pain-focused skills). Approaches like cognitive behavioral therapy or acceptance and commitment therapy can reduce distress and disability, and help you feel more in control.^{1 6}
• Medications (when appropriate). Medication choices depend on the type of pain and your health history. Some antidepressants are sometimes used for chronic primary pain, even without depression, after discussing pros and cons.¹ Long-term opioid use usually has limited long-term benefit and meaningful risks, so many guidelines recommend maximizing nonopioid options first and using careful risk-benefit review if opioids are considered.^{2 7 8}
• Injections (if needed). These are usually more relevant when there is a clear pain generator (often chronic secondary pain). They are not a general fix for chronic primary pain.^{1 4}
• Surgery (for persistent or severe cases with a clear structural cause). Surgery is not a treatment for chronic primary pain itself. It is mainly considered when there is a specific, well-matched structural problem and a strong reason to expect functional benefit.^{1 3}

[Diagnosis & Treatment →]

Sword's approach

Sword Health helps people manage pain and movement issues with expert-guided AI care you can use from home. Our model combines clinical support with modern technology, designed to work around your life.

Sword makes recovery easier and more accessible. You get high-quality care at home, guided by clinicians and supported by smart technology.

• Care that adapts to your progress in real time
• Licensed experts guiding every step
• Simple, non-invasive, evidence-based programs
• Proven results for pain relief, movement, and satisfaction

Clinical insight

For chronic primary pain, guidelines emphasize active care first.The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends focusing on education, physical activity and exercise, and psychological therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy or acceptance and commitment therapy, rather than relying on passive treatments or long-term medication strategies that have limited benefit.¹