But sometimes the pain lingers long after the danger has passed, becoming chronic. Chronic pain in the form of headaches, joint problems, or full-blown fibromyalgia can radically impact one's life.

Brian is a New York–based science and health journalist. His work has been published by The Atlantic, The Paris Review, The New York Times For Kids, CBS News, The TODAY Show, Barron's PENTA ...

A woman with chronic pain says she is "dependent" on ... strong painkillers for long periods of time, creating a "pain circle of pain, lack of sleep, fatigue, rest, and more pain", he said.