Pain that won't go away: understanding persistent (long-term) pain
Why pain can continue after tissues have healed, what keeps a sensitive nervous system going, and what tends to help, from pacing and graded activity to sleep.
Pain that lasts longer than the usual healing time is called persistent or long-term pain. It is very common, and it does not mean something is still being damaged. In persistent pain the nervous system becomes more sensitive and can keep producing pain even when the tissues have healed. Scans often cannot show these changes.
When to get urgent help
Go to A&E or call 999 if you have any of these. They can be signs of a fracture, infection, blood clot or other emergency.
- A limb that looks deformed, or a joint that you cannot move or put weight on after an injury
- A cold, pale or numb foot or hand after injury
- A hot, red, swollen joint with a high temperature
- A painful, swollen, warm calf, with or without breathlessness or chest pain
What it can feel like
- Pain lasting more than about three months, or beyond the usual healing time
- Pain that varies with sleep, stress, activity and mood, with flare-ups and better spells
- Pain that has spread beyond the original area or become more sensitive to touch or movement
- Fatigue, poor sleep, low mood or worry alongside the pain
Common contributors
- A sensitised nervous system, which can follow an injury or develop without one
- Conditions such as long-term spinal pain, osteoarthritis in several joints and fibromyalgia
- Poor sleep, stress and low activity levels, which can each turn pain up
- Fear of movement leading to doing less, which can reduce confidence and fitness
General self-care
These are general comfort measures many people find reasonable. They are not a treatment plan, and what suits one person may not suit another.
- Plan and pace daily activities, avoiding big peaks and troughs
- Build gentle, regular, graded activity and exercise, increasing slowly
- Work on good sleep habits and relaxation, and set small meaningful goals
- Look after mood and stress, and use support from family, friends and work
- Review painkillers with your pharmacist or GP, since they usually work less well for long-term pain and side effects can outweigh benefits
When to see your GP
See your GP promptly, or call NHS 111, if you have any of the following:
- Pain after a significant injury, fall or twist
- Pain that is constant, severe or getting worse, or wakes you at night
- Unexplained weight loss, fever or feeling generally unwell with limb pain
Consider seeing your GP if:
- New or changing pain, particularly with unexplained weight loss, fever or night pain that does not ease
- Pain that is affecting your mood or ability to cope. Your GP can help or point you to services
- Pain with new numbness, weakness or loss of bladder or bowel control, which needs urgent medical help
Where an osteopath fits in
There is limited good-quality research showing that hands-on treatment changes the course of persistent pain, so I do not claim that osteopathy treats it.
What an osteopath can usefully do is listen properly to your story, check whether there is anything new that needs medical attention, and help you work out a pacing and graded exercise plan. Hands-on treatment may be used for comfort and to help you move more freely, but it is not a cure, and the main benefit usually comes from changes in activity, sleep and confidence over time. If the assessment suggests you need your GP, a physiotherapist or a specialist instead, I will tell you.
If you would like your symptoms assessed, you are welcome to book an appointment. Osteopathic care is not right for everyone, and if something needs medical attention first, I will tell you.
Common questions
Why do I still have pain when the injury has healed?
A service information page from an NHS musculoskeletal service explains that persistent pain is linked to a sensitised nervous system, which can follow an injury or reflect an overactive nervous system, and that scans do not show these changes.
Do painkillers work for long-term pain?
The same service says painkillers can help short-term but usually do not work well for long-term pain, and side effects can outweigh the benefits. Speak to your pharmacist or GP before changing medication.
Sources and further reading
Links open in a new tab. Sources were checked in October 2026.
- Tyneside Integrated Musculoskeletal Service: Persistent (long-term) musculoskeletal pain
- NHS: Fibromyalgia
- NICE guideline NG59: Low back pain and sciatica in over 16s
Related guides
This page is general information to help you understand common aches and pains. It is not medical advice and cannot diagnose your problem. If you are worried about your symptoms, please speak to your GP or call NHS 111.