5 illnesses you may not have thought cause chronic pain

Did you know that diabetes can lead to chronic pain? Have you ever heard of vulvodynia?

Many people don’t realize that chronic pain can have many causes. Most of us know someone who is in pain because of a back injury, an old sports injury, or a car accident – but there are many illnesses and disorders that cause chronic pain too. I’ll be building up a resource of them for you, and here are the first 5 on the list. Hopefully, this will help bring some issues up for discussion.

Diabetes

Are you surprised to see diabetes on the list? Many people are. One of the complications of diabetes is diabetic neuropathy.

Endometriosis

Statistics in the United States vary, saying that between 5 and 20% of women of child-bearing age have some form of endometriosis.

Vulvodynia and vulvar vestibulitis

These are little known but very painful and life-affecting. Learn about vulvodynia and vulvar vestibulitis.

Multiple Sclerosis

This disease is characterized by weakness and people losing the ability to do things, but it can also be very painful. You can read about how this happens here: Multiple sclerosis.

Shingles

Shingles (herpes zoster) is a painful virus that lasts a few weeks in most people. It can leave behind a life-time of pain and discomfort in up to 20% of those who have shingles. These people develop postherpetic neuralgia.

I’ll be adding more disorders and diseases that cause chronic pain – as always, suggestions are always welcome!