Pain that lasts more than three months is called chronic pain. Most people do best with a combination of movement, treatment of the specific cause, attention to sleep and mood, and carefully chosen medicines. Finding the right mix often takes several tries, and that is normal.

Published 15 September 2026 · sources checked 15 September 2026 · pending clinical review by Kanwar Partap Singh Gill, MD

Why chronic pain is different

Short-term pain is usually a signal of injury that fades as the body heals. Chronic pain can continue after healing, or it can come from conditions that do not go away, such as arthritis, nerve damage or back problems. Over months it can affect sleep, mood, work and relationships, and those effects can make the pain harder to live with.

What treatment can include

Movement and physical therapy: aerobic, water-based or strength exercise, guided by a physical therapist when needed.
Mind-body practices: yoga, tai chi and qigong.
Psychological therapies: cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness-based stress reduction help people manage how pain affects daily life. Using them does not mean the pain is “in your head.”
Weight loss, when joints are carrying extra load.
Hands-on and other therapies: acupuncture, massage, spinal manipulation and low-level laser therapy.
Medicines chosen for the type of pain; some work better for nerve pain, others for joint or muscle pain.
Procedures or devices for certain conditions.

Not every option works for every person. A treatment that reduces pain even partly, or helps you do more, can be worth keeping.

About opioids

Opioid medicines can relieve pain, but they carry serious risks, including overdose, death and addiction. The risk is higher when they are taken differently from how they were prescribed, or combined with alcohol or sedating medicines. If an opioid is part of your plan, ask about naloxone, keep the medicine locked away and never share it. Many people have non-opioid options that can improve pain and daily function now. See opioid safety and naloxone.

What researchers are working on

Scientists are studying new pain medicines that act on different targets than opioids, and gene-based approaches that would reach only the nerves carrying pain signals. These are research projects, not treatments available today.

Questions to bring to your visit

What is most likely causing my pain?
What is the goal: less pain, better sleep, being able to walk or work?
Which non-medication options fit my situation?
How will we know whether a treatment is working, and when do we change it?
If I take a medicine, what are its risks and what should I watch for?

Get care promptly if

You have new severe pain; pain with fever, unexplained weight loss, new weakness or numbness, or loss of bladder or bowel control; or pain after a fall or injury. If pain is affecting your mood and you have thoughts of harming yourself, call or text 988 or go to the nearest emergency department. For a medical emergency, call 911.

Related guides

Sources

NIH News in Health — Chronic Pain Treatment: The Search for New Options (September 2026)

This guide is general education, not a diagnosis or a treatment plan. Your own clinician should guide decisions about your care.

Chronic Pain Treatment: Why One Approach Rarely Works for Everyone