Chronic pain is ongoing pain that lasts for more than 12 weeks. People with chronic pain typically have an initial period of exploration, whereby professionals try to identify an underlying cause. Within this acute period, efforts usually focus upon a medical and physiological approach- trying to find the cause of pain.

Chronic pain, pain that does not subside within 12 weeks, often continues long after an injury, treatment, or surgery. Pain signals continue to be active within the central nervous system for weeks, months and often years after the initial onset. Given the low probability for people with chronic pain conditions to find a cure, the focus then becomes learning to manage, control, and live with the continuous pain signals.

Medication may be an option and may offer relief for some people. Further discussions and considerations relating to the dilemmas regarding pain medication can be found in the section ‘treatments for chronic pain’.

Beyond medical solutions, the following lifestyle practices, approaches, and support systems may be utilised by individuals wishing to live well despite living with pain: