Acute vs. Chronic Pain

Any pain you are experiencing is unpleasant to say the least. There are a couple different types of pain that occur, and the main difference between them is the cause of pain. 

What are the Different Types of Pain?

Acute pain

This type of pain happens suddenly and doesn’t last more than six months. This pain signal is your body telling you that it is in danger and need to stop whatever movement you are doing. It is brought on by a specific injury or disease and is associated with the activation of the sympathetic nervous system and usually has a specific, treatable cause. Some common injuries/life events that can lead to acute pain include:   

•  Labor and childbirth

•  Broken bones 

•  Pulled muscle

After the acute pain subsides, you can resume your normal activities of daily life. However, acute pain can turn into chronic pain, the second type of pain that I am going to talk about. 

Chronic pain

Not as easy to diagnose, chronic pain is common, affecting as much as 20% of the US population. It is caused by underlying issues, and sometimes surgery cannot stop the pain. It is classified as pain that lasts longer than six months, and the responses to chronic pain that people can take are very different. Chronic pain patients sometimes try out a multitude of pain relief options before finding the best relief. Some examples of chronic pain include:

•  Back pain

•  Fibromyalgia

•  Headaches

If you have pain, don’t feel that drastic measures such as pain medication and surgery are the only options for treatment . Dr. Harmony is fully equipped to get you back to your daily activities and improve your quality of life. In her initial visit, she does a complete history, physical, and treatment to get to the root of your pain. 

Chiropractic Care Kelowna BC