Is Chronic Pain a Genetic Condition?

Many people think that chronic pain is genetic. It’s usually a difficult conversation to have, but it’s important to ask.

Let’s start with the basics.
Chronic pain is an umbrella term that covers pain that lasts longer than three months or is severe enough to interfere with daily activities. It can be caused by injuries or other chronic conditions like arthritis, diabetes or depression.

Because there are so many different types of chronic pain, it can be hard to pinpoint what causes it in any individual case. But researchers have found some commonalities among people who experience chronic pain:

They tend to have a family member who also has chronic pain.

They tend to have a higher body mass index (BMI) than average or have other risk factors for obesity such as being inactive or having high cholesterol levels.

They tend to have more stress in their lives and may be more likely to suffer from anxiety or depression than others in their social network.

Chronic pain can be genetic if both parents have it. However, if only one parent has chronic pain and the other has no chronic pain, there is still a possibility that the child may develop chronic pain later in life.

Genes are responsible for making proteins in our bodies (called enzymes) that help us do many different things like digest food, metabolize drugs and make immune cells. They also control how our cells grow and die. When genes are mutated they can cause problems in our bodies such as cancer or sickle cell disease (a condition where red blood cells become misshapen and stick together).

The same goes for genetics when it comes to chronic pain — some people inherit genes that cause them to become more sensitive to certain types of pain or experience more pain than others who don’t inherit those same genes (however, this doesn’t mean that everyone with these genes will experience chronic pain).

Chronic pain can be genetic, however, don’t think that this means you’re destined to suffer from it. Whether or not your family has a history of pain-related conditions, it’s important to seek effective treatment for your pain’s underlying causes.

So if you’re suffering from pain, don’t wait any longer for relief. Explore your options and get effective treatment for your pain at The Center for Spine and Pain Medicine, where information is power and our friendly staff are always here to help! Schedule an appointment with us.