Chronic Pain Terminology

noun a medical condition characterized by inflammation of the joints

• Arthritis is a condition that causes inflammation and stiffness in the joints.
• My grandma has arthritis in her knees and it makes it hard for her to walk sometimes.
• I heard that sitting too much can give you arthritis in your back.
• Dealing with all these problems at once feels like having a bad case of emotional arthritis.

noun a recurrent throbbing headache that typically affects one side of the head and is often accompanied by nausea and disturbed vision

• She was unable to attend the meeting due to a severe migraine.
• I can't come out tonight, I have a killer migraine.
• I feel like my head is going to explode with this migraine.
• Dealing with that difficult client was a real migraine for the team.

noun a chronic disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and tenderness in localized areas

• Fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain.
• My aunt was diagnosed with fibromyalgia last year and it has been a tough journey for her.
• Dealing with fibromyalgia is no joke, it's like having a constant ache all over your body.
• Living with fibromyalgia is like carrying a heavy burden that never seems to lighten.