Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsAcute PainChronic PainSubacute PainAcute Pain TreatmentChronic Pain TreatmentSubacute Pain Treatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Acute Pain
Chronic Pain
Subacute Pain
Acute Pain Treatment
Chronic Pain Treatment
Subacute Pain Treatment
Acute, chronic, and subacute are three different ways to describe pain. Acute pain is pain that comes on quickly, usually as a result of a traumatic accident or illness. Chronic pain is pain that develops more slowly and is persistent or long-lasting. Subacute pain is somewhere in between the two.
This article goes over acute, chronic, and subacute pain and how each type is managed and treated.
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Acute pain refers to any specific, sharp pain that is of rapid onset or pain that results from a specific traumatic incident such as an injury to a specific part of the body, or an illness. Acute pain tends to be very isolated.
Such pain comes on quickly but often has a limited overall duration. An acute injury is usually the result of a specific impact or traumatic event that occurs in one specific area of the body, such as a muscle, bone, or joint. Patients often think the word “acute” means severe, but healthcare professionals do not use the term in that way.
Medical providers use the terms “acute” and “chronic” to describe pain, but they can also be used to describe other symptoms, a disease, or a condition.For example, an acute condition is one that comes on quickly, lasts only a short period of time, or both.Examples of acute illnesses areacute leukemiaoracute appendicitis, both of which seem to develop quickly, and acute respiratory illness which may last only a short time.
Medical providers use the terms “acute” and “chronic” to describe pain, but they can also be used to describe other symptoms, a disease, or a condition.
For example, an acute condition is one that comes on quickly, lasts only a short period of time, or both.Examples of acute illnesses areacute leukemiaoracute appendicitis, both of which seem to develop quickly, and acute respiratory illness which may last only a short time.
The opposite of acute pain ischronic pain. Chronic pain refers to any sort of physical injury, illness, or disease that develops slowly. Rather than being short-lived and finite, chronic pain is persistent and long-lasting, or constantly recurring over time.
Chronic pain is usually defined as pain that lasts for more than three months. The term may also be used to describe pain that interferes with daily activities for 12 weeks or longer.Chronic pain can last for months or years. Some people have chronic pain that needs to be managed for the rest of their lives.
Subacute pain has a less specific definition than acute or chronic pain and there may be some overlap between what certain healthcare providers consider to be acute, subacute, or chronic pain. Generally speaking, however, subacute pain is pain that lasts longer than acute pain but does not last as long as chronic pain. Usually, this means more than four weeks but less than three months.
Subacute pain may be persistent or intermittent or it may only be present when the person is moving a certain part of their body or sitting, standing, or lying down in a certain way. It may feel dull or sharp. Subacute pain is not necessarily worse than acute pain, but it does persist for a longer period of time.
How Is Acute Pain Treated?
Acute pain from an injury issue typically requires immediate medical attention, including first aid treatment to treat the underlying cause of the pain.Your healthcare provider may also recommend over-the-counter pain medications and at-home strategies for managing and relieving the pain.
R.I.C.E.
A common acronym for acute injury treatment isRICE, which stands for rest, ice, compression, and elevation.
How Is Chronic Pain Treated?
Chronic pain is usually managed with a combination of treatment strategies, which may include:
How Is Subacute Pain Treated?
People with subacute pain tend to do better when treatment combines strategies such as medication, physical therapy, and occupational therapy.
Summary
6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.King W.Acute pain, subacute pain and chronic pain.Encyclopedia of Pain. 35-36. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29805-2_75Banerjee S, Argáez C and and Argáe, Charlene.Multidisciplinary treatment programs for patients with acute or subacute pain: A review of clinical effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, and guidelines.Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health, 2019.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Chronic pain.University of Kansas Health System. Acute Pain.Wang ZR, Ni GX.Is it time to put traditional cold therapy in rehabilitation of soft-tissue injuries out to pasture?World J Clin Cases. 2021 Jun 16;9(17):4116-4122. doi:10.12998/wjcc.v9.i17.4116Alberta Health Services Government of Alberta.Rest, ice, compression, elevation.
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.King W.Acute pain, subacute pain and chronic pain.Encyclopedia of Pain. 35-36. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29805-2_75Banerjee S, Argáez C and and Argáe, Charlene.Multidisciplinary treatment programs for patients with acute or subacute pain: A review of clinical effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, and guidelines.Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health, 2019.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Chronic pain.University of Kansas Health System. Acute Pain.Wang ZR, Ni GX.Is it time to put traditional cold therapy in rehabilitation of soft-tissue injuries out to pasture?World J Clin Cases. 2021 Jun 16;9(17):4116-4122. doi:10.12998/wjcc.v9.i17.4116Alberta Health Services Government of Alberta.Rest, ice, compression, elevation.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
King W.Acute pain, subacute pain and chronic pain.Encyclopedia of Pain. 35-36. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29805-2_75Banerjee S, Argáez C and and Argáe, Charlene.Multidisciplinary treatment programs for patients with acute or subacute pain: A review of clinical effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, and guidelines.Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health, 2019.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Chronic pain.University of Kansas Health System. Acute Pain.Wang ZR, Ni GX.Is it time to put traditional cold therapy in rehabilitation of soft-tissue injuries out to pasture?World J Clin Cases. 2021 Jun 16;9(17):4116-4122. doi:10.12998/wjcc.v9.i17.4116Alberta Health Services Government of Alberta.Rest, ice, compression, elevation.
King W.Acute pain, subacute pain and chronic pain.Encyclopedia of Pain. 35-36. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29805-2_75
Banerjee S, Argáez C and and Argáe, Charlene.Multidisciplinary treatment programs for patients with acute or subacute pain: A review of clinical effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, and guidelines.Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health, 2019.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Chronic pain.
University of Kansas Health System. Acute Pain.
Wang ZR, Ni GX.Is it time to put traditional cold therapy in rehabilitation of soft-tissue injuries out to pasture?World J Clin Cases. 2021 Jun 16;9(17):4116-4122. doi:10.12998/wjcc.v9.i17.4116
Alberta Health Services Government of Alberta.Rest, ice, compression, elevation.
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