Pain that lasts for more than 3 months is labeled by physicians as "chronic pain."

Extreme chronic pain kept David Orr in a state of frustration after several surgeries for cancer. "I was limited to staying home, just home, home, and hardly could walk, bedridden."

Pain Specialist Jules Preudomme says that chronic pain can be caused by car accidents, illnesses such as cancer as well as other more common events. "Accidents, people get injured on jobs, job related injuries, that's a major source of chronic pain."

Dr. Preudomme also says that it's important to remember that medication is only one of the many ways that chronic pain can be treated. "The first line of treatment is making sure you get a good history, that is key."

Along with treatments like radio frequency and drug therapy, David knows that exercise has played a huge role in his recovery. "Since then he's given me back a quality of life, I can walk, I can get a block in or two blocks in, I can physically have some fun once in a while, I can smile once in a while, say hello, prior to that I couldn't do it."

David also believes that people who live with chronic pain have to shift their mindset as well, so that they can become aware of the small successes they experience on a daily basis with the treatments available.

Massage therapy, acupuncture and water therapy are additional treatments available for people with chronic pain.