Acute VS. Chronic Pain

Back pain can come on quickly of slowly get worse over a matter of hours or days. What makes the difference between chronic (long-lasting)and acute (short-term) pain is how long it lasts. The intensity and quality of the pain may be the same but acute pain will subside over time. It may take several days or several weeks but acute pain goes away. Chronic pain sticks around for the long haul.

The longer the pain sticks around the more the pain damages your quality of life and your nervous system. Experiencing intense and chronic pain can make your nervous system hypersensitive, so that even little bumps and bruises will eventually create blown out of proportion pain sensations. That is why it is so important to take care of pain fast and not let it get ahead of you or just tough it out.

Your attitude about pain is a very important part of the healing process. Some people become fixated on their pain. They pay too much attention to it and they start to live their lives around it. They feel helpless and get depressed. When your body is putting so much of it’s energy toward pain it has less to allocate to healing. Don’t be a tough guy! Work to reduce your pain and you will heal quicker.