Question

what is the differences between acute and chronic pain including the what causes the pain, nociception, assessment differences between the two, differences in treatments of the two and why.

Answer 1

Definition:
• Acute pain: It is mild and last just a moment or might be severe and last for weeks or months.
• Chronic pain: It is the pain which is continuous and lasts longer than six months.
Causes:
• Acute pain: Surgery, broken bones, burns, cuts, labour and childbirth.
• Chronic pain: Headache, arthritis, cancer, nerve pain, back pain, fibromyalgia pain.
Assessment:
• Acute pain: The characteristic of pain, location, duration is assessed.
• Chronic pain: Same as in acute pain but additional the psychological status is assessed.
Treatment:
• Acute pain: Analgesics either opioid or non opioid drugs
• Chronic pain: Analgesics, non medical treatment like exercise, weight reduction, heat or ice applications, alternative treatments. In chronic pain the patient will be affected psychologically so psychotherapy should be given.