How Chronic Pain Hurts the Brain
Chronic pain patients suffer from more than just pain; this includes depression and anxiety, sleep disturbances, and decision-making abnormalities.
Recent studies have demonstrated that chronic pain harms areas of the brain unrelated to pain.
– JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
Baliki, M.; Geha, P.; Apkarian, V. “Beyond Feeling: Chronic Pain Hurts the Brain.” 6 February 2008; 28(6):1398-1403
Supporting Resources
“Chronic pain is considered a central nervous system disorder.”
– JOURNAL OF PAIN
Bushnell, T. “Is Chronic Pain a Disease?” 2009;10:1113-1120
Numerous studies have demonstrated that changes in brain structures are associated with persistent pain. Patients with persistent pain show a reduction in gray matter density.
NATURE NEUROSCIENCE
Baliki, M. “Corticostriatal Functional Connectivity Predicts Transition to Chronic Pain.” Jul 2012; pp. 1117-1119