Know thy PAIN!

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Pain can be classified as ACUTE or CHRONIC.¹ Knowing the difference between these types of pain allows your doctor to determine the best treatment for it.

ACUTE PAIN²

• Happens suddenly
• Has a specific cause
• Sharp in quality
• Usually resolves in less than 6 months
• Ceases after its cause is addressed

CHRONIC PAIN ²

• Lasts for more than 6 months
• Persists even if the underlying injury
• or cause had already healed
• May occur even when there is no past
• injury or apparent body damage

When acute pain resolves, you can return to doing your usual activities.²,³ However, if pain is not treated appropriately, acute pain can become chronic.³

Chronic pain can feel like slow torture:
It can make work, exercise or even taking a bath and dressing yourself difficult.⁴ Whether acute or chronic, when out of control, pain can take an emotional toll on anyone.⁴ So the primary goal of treatment should be the return of an individual to one’s optimal function.¹

Pain is characterized by inflammation that may vary from one person to another and also in the same person at different times. ⁵ A successful treatment will result in less inflammation and thus less pain.⁵

References: 
1. MedicineNet. Pain (Acute and chronic). MedicineNet resource page. Available at: https://www.medicinenet.com/pain_acute_and_chronic/views.htm. Accessed 01 September 2021. 
2. Cleveland Clinic. Acute vs. chronic pain. Cleveland Clinic resource page. Available at: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/12051-acute-vs-chronic-pain#:~:text=Acute%20 pain%20can%20be%20mild,lasts%20longer%20than%20six%20months. Accessed 01 September 2021. 
3. Southside Pain Specialists. What’s the difference between chronic and acute pain. Southside Pain Specialists resource page. Available at: https://www.southsidepainspecialists.com/whats-the-difference-between-chronic-and-acute-pain/. Accessed 01 September 2021. 
4. Integris Health. Chronic Pain Syndrome. Integris Health resource page. Available at: https://integrisok.com/services/medical/chronic-pain-syndrome Accessed 01 September 2021. 
5. Omoigui S. Med Hypotheses 2007;69:1169–1178