Pain is always a subjective experience, says Deb Drew, R.N., clinical nurse specialist, Fairview Pain Management Center . It can sometimes be complicated with emotional, psychological and social dimensions. Acute pain is temporary, caused by tissue damage. The cause is obvious, and the sensation can last a few seconds or a few months, but it does go away as healing occurs. Examples of acute pain are a bee sting, a broken bone, an overused muscle or pain after surgery.
Chronic pain lasts longer than the normal healing time.
Its intensity can be mild or severe, and the source may be more difficult to find. Chronic pain is often caused by such conditions as arthritis, endometriosis or nerve damage. Acute pain may become chronic. The pain may be constant, or it may come and go, and it can last indefinitely, sometimes years. Pain can result in difficulty sleeping, loss of a job and depression among other issues, and a decreased quality of life, says Christine Leisz, D.O., who practices physical medicine and rehabilitation and is a member of University of Minnesota Physicians.