Chronic Pain That Lasts Months

The assumption most often left unchecked is what the word chronic means. Cleveland Clinic defines chronic pain as pain that lasts for over three months. MedlinePlus says back pain is called chronic if it lasts for more than three months. The label describes how long the pain has lasted, so ask what a proposal assumes about its cause. A fuller overview of chronic pain lets you see how the word is used.

One question for long-lasting pain

Here is one question to bring to a second opinion.

• Myofascial Pain Syndrome Trigger Points: what did the plan check before settling on a source?

For a second description of the same word to compare with the one in your plan, read what chronic pain is, with symptoms and treatment.

Lining up two chronic pain proposals

Note the date your pain began and the date each proposal assumes. Then write the cause each proposal names and the evidence it cites. Where the two proposals differ, ask each clinician to explain the difference.

For wider reading, a pain management information hub lists many topics you can search for the terms in your plan. Readers in the Montclair area can bring the same comparison to two appointments.