Chronic pain lasts more than 3 months – longer than the normal healing time for damaged tissue. It loses its adaptive value and can become a disease in its own right. Patients with chronic pain develop certain psychological problems associated with constant pain. These problems, in turn, can make the pain syndrome progress and undo any efforts to restore the patient’s ability to work.

One of the most common types of chronic pain is myofascial pain, caused by dysfunction of a muscle and its fascia – the membrane that connects bones, organs and blood vessels throughout the body.

Chronic pain can be caused by:

  • severe stress;
  • previous operations or injuries;
  • a stroke or heart attack;
  • insomnia;
  • fatigue;
  • difficulty concentrating;
  • a sense of hopelessness.

The main symptom of chronic pelvic pain syndrome is persistent pain or discomfort in the perineum and pelvis. In some patients, the pain spreads to the abdomen, lower back or genital area.

Ejaculation is often painful, and around 50% of men have urinary tract problems. Such symptoms have a severe impact on a man’s quality of life.

The most common cause of chronic pelvic pain syndrome is chronic prostatitis. In other cases, the syndrome may be linked to myalgia caused by tension in the pelvic floor muscles, which are in a spastic state. The source of chronic pelvic pain syndrome may also be an injury to the intervertebral discs or a tumour of the spinal cord or pelvic organs.

The syndrome can occur in both women and men. Pain may be classified as chronic if it is episodic or constant and has troubled the patient for 6 months or more. In most cases, the pain has a negative impact on the patient’s cognitive function, behaviour, sexual activity and emotions.

  • constant pain and tightness in the lower abdomen, bladder, perineum, vagina and anus;
  • painful urination.

The location of the pain may vary, but its persistence deprives a person of a normal life and often leads to a disorder of the nervous system.

Treatment of chronic pain includes:

  • pain relief with medication;
  • therapeutic exercise, physiotherapy and specialist massage to restore mobility and relieve muscle tension;
  • antidepressants to restore chemical processes in the brain;
  • motivating the patient towards recovery.