Resources f​or People Living with Chronic Pain

Chronic (long-term) pain is pain that lasts three months or longer. It can be caused by an injury, disease or health condition, inflammation, or medical treatment. Acute (short-term) pain is different – it usually comes on suddenly and normally has a known cause, such as an injury or surgery. Acute pain normally gets better as your body heals. 

Chronic pain doesn't always go away but can often be managed in ways that reduce symptoms and improve quality of life. Many non-opioid treatments have been shown to work well, often with fewer risks and side effects.

​Talking with Your Health Care Provider​

If you have chronic pain, talk with your health care provider about your treatment options. If you are prescribed opioids (like hydrocodone, oxycodone, and morphine), make sure you understand how to use them safely and what questions to ask. 

• ​Learn more about how to work with your doctor to manage pain: Working together with your doctor to manage pain (CDC webpage). 
  

• This page answers common questions about prescription opioids for pain relief, including safe use and risks:  Patients' Freq​uently Asked Questions About Prescription Opioids​.
  

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​Opioid Treatment for Chronic Pain

• Risks and How to Reduce Them - Learn about the risks and side effects, and safety guidelines to follow if you are prescribed opioids: Risks and How to Reduce Them web page.
• Expectations for Opioid Therapy - Find out what steps you and your doctor can take to make sure opioid treatment is as safe and effective as possible: Opioid Therapy and Different Types of Pain web page.
• Risks of Using Prescription Opioids - Understand the possible harms of relying on prescription opioids to treat chronic pain: About Prescription Opioids web page.​

Non-Opioid Tre​atments for Chronic Pain​

• Non-Opioid Therapies for Pain Management - Learn about the non-opioid medications and treatment recommendations for acute, and subacute chronic pain: Non-op​ioid Therapies for Pain Management (CDC web page)
• Complementary Approaches for Chronic Pain - Research shows that complementary health approaches can help with chronic pain for many conditions. Visit the web page Chronic Pain an​d Complementary Health Approaches: Usefulness and Safety for more information. Examples of complementary health approaches include:
• Acupuncture
  
• Massage therapy
• Meditation
• Relaxation techniques
• Spinal manipulation
• Tai chi and qi gong
• ​Yoga​

Additional Resources

• Managing Chronic Non-Cancer Pain (PDF)
  
• Non-Opioid Treatment for Chronic Pain 
  
• The Rx Awareness Campaign

For questions, please contact us at opi@cdph.ca.gov.