Pain is the body's warning system, an unpleasant sensation alerting you that something is wrong. Specialized nerve cells within your body transmit pain signals in response to tissue damage or injury.
Acute pain is temporary.
It can last a few seconds or longer, but goes away as healing occurs. Chronic pain ranges from mild to severe, and may last for months, years or a lifetime. Chronic pain is a major health problem in the United States and is one of the most debilitating effects of arthritis. More than 40 million American suffer from some form of arthritis, and many have chronic pain that limits daily activity. A combination of these factors contributes to the intensity of the pain.