Chronic pain
Short definition
Chronic pain is pain that persists or recurs for longer than three months, the criterion adopted in the WHO International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11).
In plain language
Unlike acute pain, it no longer works as a simple alarm signal and affects sleep, mood, mobility and social life. Examples are persistent low back pain, osteoarthritis pain or neuropathic pain. Its management is usually multidisciplinary, combining medication, exercise, physiotherapy and psychological approaches.