Turkish Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 2005 , Vol 51 , Num 2

Chronic Pain Syndromes

Reyhan Çeliker 1
1 Acıbadem Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi, Fiziksel Tıp ve Rehabilitasyon Anabilim Dalı, İstanbul

Pain is one of the most common complaints that leads patients to seek medical care. Pain that persists longer than the reasonable expected healing time for the involved tissues should be considered chronic pain. Pain and pain behaviours are accepted as the primary disease in chronic pain syndrome. Chronic pain syndrome is a common problem with a poor response to therapy.  The pathophysiology of chronic pain syndrome is multifactorial and complex. Millions of people are disabled partially or totally due to chronic pain every year. Six D symptoms of chronic pain syndrome are as follows: drug abuse, decreased function, disuse, depression, disability and disturbed sleep. Detailed examination of the musculoskeletal system is important. Pain measurement is useful when evaluating any patient with chronic pain. A psychological and functional evaluation should be performed. The disability is usually out of proportion to the impairment and the objective findings. Extreme care should be undertaken during diagnostic testing for chronic pain syndrome to eliminate unnecessary repetition. Management of chronic pain syndrome is complex and managed best with a multidisciplinary approach. The patient and family should have a good understanding about the multifactorial nature of chronic pain. The goals of treatment must be realistic and should be focused on restoration of normal function, better quality of life, reduction of use of medication, and prevention of relapse of chronic symptoms. 

Keywords : Chronic pain, definition, classification, evaluatio