Resources for people with chronic pain.
Chronic (long-term) pain is defined as pain that lasts three months or longer. This pain could be caused by an injury, disease or condition, inflammation, or a medical treatment. Acute (short-term) pain is usually sudden and normally has a known cause, such as an injury or surgery. The pain normally gets better as your body heals. Chronic pain can often be managed without opioids and many other options have been shown to work better with fewer side effects.
Below is a list of resources to support people with chronic pain.
If you have chronic pain, talk to your health care provider about your options to reduce or eliminate pain. If you are prescribed opioids (PDF) (like hydrocodone, oxycodone, and morphine), make sure you know what questions to ask so you are informed about your prescriptions and how to take them. Use these conversation starters:
This webpage includes answers and guidance to patients' frequently asked questions on taking prescription opioids for pain relief. Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
This webpage describes the risks and side effects of opioid use and provides guidelines to follow if you are prescribed opioids for pain. Source: CDC
This webpage outlines actions your doctor or health care provider should take to ensure the best treatment option is provided for you. Source: CDC
This webpage describes the risks and side effects of using prescription opioids to treat chronic pain. Source: CDC
This fact sheet provides an overview of the principles of chronic pain treatment, non-opioid medications, and non-opioid treatment recommendations for common chronic pain conditions. Source: CDC
This webpage provides information on how self-management education (SME) programs may help you control your pain. Some subjects covered include relaxation techniques, making informed decisions about your health, and the appropriate use of prescriptions and medications. Source: CDC
This webpage provides information on the science behind complementary health approaches for chronic pain for many conditions such as general chronic pain, arthritis, and irritable bowel syndrome. Source: National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)
Explore these complementary health approaches for treating chronic pain:
This fact sheet includes non-opioid treatment options for managing chronic non-cancer pain, such as movement-based therapies, behavioral therapies, medication, and procedures. Source: San Francisco Department of Public Health
For questions, please contact us at opi@cdph.ca.gov.