Acute vs Chronic Pain

Let’s get one thing straight – pain is a universal experience. It has a vast array of causes like a bone fracture, migraine, tooth decay and many more. Nevertheless, when pain becomes long-term, perhaps medical attention is required. It is also important to know the difference of acute vs chronic pain. Click on this link for more info about pain or you can continue reading on.

The Difference of Acute vs Chronic Pain

Acute pain is a normal type of pain, that’s like a warning that you’re hurt. Examples include incidents like breaking your leg, accidentally hitting your finger with a hammer and getting your tongue burned when sipping a very hot soup. It’s a good pain since it sends a signal that you’re having an injury.

With the word “acute”, acute pain is abrupt but does not last long. It immediately stops as the injury is completely healed.

Chronic pain is more of a problem compared to acute pain as the pain itself is considered a disease. An example is when pain still persists beyond the recovery time even though the injury has already been controlled.

Chronic pain is on a long term basis. It can last for weeks, months or even years. It is usually diagnosed three to six months of pain. In the case of chronic pain, the nervous system is altered, hence, making the body more sensitive to pain. That’s the main reason why the painful sensation is more severe and takes longer.

Medical Conditions leading to Chronic Pain

There are various conditions that can trigger chronic pain. Such diseases include arthritis, diabetes, fibromyalgia and cancer.

It’s quite difficult to determine the true cause of chronic. Some cannot even be diagnosed.

If the pain persists after applying some home remedies longer than expected, the best recommendation is to have a consultation with the doctor. Especially if the pain still exists from three to six months, consulting your doctor is highly recommended.

A small cut or burn would usually trigger acute pain. But if the pain still persists, it’s no longer caused by the cut or burn. Call your doctor right away instead of waiting for three months.

Is it necessary to consult a pain specialist?

In most cases, patients who are experiencing pain only consult their family doctor. The provider would simply apply first aid methods to treat the pain or prescribe analgesics. But there are cases, when the pain is still felt by the individual. If this is the case and the family doctor ran out of options to alleviate the pain, the doctor would then give a referral to a pain specialist.

A pain specialist is a health care provider that is specifically trained to manage various types of pain, regardless if it’s acute or chronic. It usually starts with a medical examination to determine the problem. Pain management will also be given.

Usually, pain specialists are those who have a background in psychiatry, anesthesiology, rehabilitation, physical medicine and neurology. They upgrade themselves by taking a training program in pain medicine and management.