Chronic Pain Syndrome (CPS)

Chronic pain syndrome (CPS) is a term used to define patients with severe and persistent pain from virtually any source which has resulted in marked changes in behavior, self-imposed restriction of daily activities, and heavy, largely ineffective use of the healthcare system. CPS overwhelms all other medical symptoms to the point of becoming the problem itself. It is often accompanied by bouts of irritability, uncontrolled anger, and depression.

Symptoms of CPS

CPS can wreak havoc on a person’s mental health, physical health, emotions, and social life. There are many symptoms for CPS such as:

• Irritability
• Sexual problems and loss of interest in sex
• Achy muscles
• Soreness
• Headaches
• Feeling constantly exhausted and tired
• Depression and anxiety
• Alcohol/drug dependency and abuse
• Thought of self-harm or suicide
• Job loss
• Guilt
• Anger

CPS Causes

It is somewhat difficult to find causes of CPS, because it may come from certain mental disorders and it might also come from a previous injury or another painful condition such as:

• Headaches
• Back pain
• Lyme disease
• Nerve damage
• Fibromyalgia- a muscle pain condition
• Irritable bowel syndrome or irritable bowel disease
• Past surgery
• Cancer
• Broken bones
• Repetitive stress injuries
• Ulcers or acid reflux
• Anxiety and/or depression
• Panic attacks
• Endometriosis- when tissue on the inside of the uterus begins growing on the outside

Since CPS can be caused by both physical or mental problems, the pain can affect anyone at any age and many doctors believe that people with CPS have problems with the nerves and glands that the body uses to handle stress.

Diagnosis and treatment of CPS

In order to get accurate treatment for the causes of pain and the mental/emotional symptoms, your doctor will ask you basic questions including when your pain started, where the pain is located, the severity of the pain between 1-10, what has helped with the pain, what makes it worse, and if the pain is throbbing, shooting, sharp, burning, stinging, etc.

They may also ask if the pain has lead to anxiety, panic, depression, or thoughts of harming yourself and others. To localize the pain, your doctor may want to run certain tests such as an MRI, CT scan, or X-ray that will show if you have joint damage or other issues that would cause the pain.

In order to treat CPS, your doctor might suggest follow up appointments in physical therapy. Physical therapy would include massages, stretching exercises, and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. Your doctor may also get treated with:

• Braces
• Group therapy or one-on-one counseling
• Spinal cord stimulation
• Pain and other medications such as anti-seizure drugs, NSAIDs, or antidepressants
• Nerve blocks
• Occupational therapy
• Surgery

Always be sure to call your doctor if the pain grows from mild or moderate to severe, if the pain doesn’t stop with treatment, or if the pain keeps you from participating in daily activities.