Acute Pain vs. Chronic Pain: What's the difference?
Everyone has experienced pain, whether it’s from stubbing a toe, touching a hot stove, or undergoing a surgical procedure. Pain is the body’s natural response to injury or damage, and it is usually entirely healthy. However, when this normal, or acute, pain crosses over into chronic pain, you may need to seek help from a pain and wellness center. Acute pain can be distinguished from chronic pain in three ways:
- Cause: Acute pain is caused by injury, trauma, or tissue damage. Examples include childbirth, broken bones, and cuts. As the injured area of the body heals, the pain gradually fades. Chronic pain, on the other hand, begins as acute pain, but does not go away when the injury heals. This type of pain persists long after any tissue damage has been repaired, because the pain actually distorts existing nerve pathways to the brain.
- Sensation: Sufferers use words like stabbing, stinging, or sharp to describe acute pain. Chronic pain requires a very different vocabulary: throbbing, dull, or even vicious. Chronic pain can also have psychological consequences, such as depression, anxiety, and insomnia. In time, some sufferers find that chronic pain begins to define their lives.
- Duration: Perhaps the most important difference between chronic and acute pain is the duration. Acute pain lasts a relatively short amount of time. After six months, however, the pain is classified as chronic. It can last for years if not properly treated.
If you’re experiencing chronic pain, your primary care doctor may not have the answers you’re looking for. The Pain and Wellness Center, located in Peabody, MA, specializes in the treatment of chronic pain. We offer innovative, nontraditional options for pain management, such as acupuncture, homeopathy, and massage therapy. If you’re in the Boston area, call us at (781) 780-3616 to set up an appointment.
- Loading comments...
