Acute Pain

New-onset Pain Due to an Injury or Illness - Improves Within One to Three Months

Acute pain is the type of pain that starts suddenly after an injury or with the onset of an illness. It is caused by a specific situation like an accident, injury, illness, or a normal life event such as giving birth. Acute pain is a normal part of life that nearly everyone experiences. It is the body’s internal alarm that signals when something is wrong and you need to take action.

Information About Acute Pain

Acute pain starts quickly and lasts a relatively short time. By definition, acute pain improves within the first 1 to 3 months after its onset.

Pain that outlasts 6 months is considered chronic pain, a persistent condition that requires additional treatment from a pain specialist. The period between 3 and 6 months is seen as a time of transition from acute pain to chronic pain. You should seek evaluation and treatment at this stage in order to help avoid transitioning into chronic pain.

Some common examples of acute pain:

Interesting Facts About Acute Pain

• Acute pain may be difficult to diagnose and treat. It may be caused by unseen events: a fractured rib, a herniated disc, a pinched nerve.
• Pain is more than a physical sensation — there may be an emotional response (fear, anxiety) to a traumatic event that triggered the pain. For example, a person may avoid driving after having suffered severe injuries in a car accident.
• Pain is universal. However, pain perception varies among individuals according to cultural backgrounds and genetic differences.