ABSTRACT
For many chronic pain patients the steady aches, burning, numbness, twisting, and stabbing sensations result in a severe loss of self-esteem, loss of interpersonal relationships, decline of family activities, curtailment of employment, and progressive loss of income. Chronic pain has been considered a natural and unfortunate side effect which accompanied a primary illness or accident. Work injuries and motor vehicle accidents account for over 80% of the beginning nightmares for the chronic pain patient. Chronic pain has multiple causes, each of which raises the stress dimension and impacts a patient’s life. However, the nonanatomic distribution of the pain and associated tenderness is one of the factors that may identify it as chronic pain. Chronic pain is accompanied by stress and distress which lead to chronic disease. In 1936 Dr. Selye discovered the general adaption syndrome in which all stress producers, such as physical, chemical, and psychological damaging agents, will provoke a reproducible nonspecific body response.
