Acute pain alerts us to injury in a specified area. The pain usually comes on suddenly and is caused by something specific. It is sharp in quality. Acute pain usually last less than three to six months. It is of short duration but it gradually resolves as the injured tissues heal. Causes of acute pain include:
•Surgery
•Broken bones
•Dental work
•Burns or cuts
•Labor and childbirth
Chronic pain is pain that is ongoing and usually lasts longer than six months. This type of pain may arise from an initial injury but the pain can continue even after the injury or illness that caused it has healed or gone away. Pain signals remain active in the nervous system for weeks, months, or years. Some people suffer chronic pain even when there is no past injury or apparent body damage. Other health problems, such as fatigue, sleep disturbance, decreased appetite, and mood changes, often accompany chronic pain. Chronic pain may limit a person’s movements, which can reduce flexibility, strength, and stamina. This difficulty in carrying out important and enjoyable activities can lead to disability and despair. Chronic pain is linked to conditions including:
•Headache
•Arthritis
•Cancer
•Nerve pain
•Back pain
•Fibromyalgia pain