General pain

Types of pain

In general, doctors divide pain into two main categories - acute and chronic.

• Acute: Acute pain is temporary, related to the physical sensation of tissue damage. It can last from a few seconds to several months, but generally disappears when the tissue heals. Examples include a burn, a fracture, an overused muscle, or pain after surgery.

   

• Chronic: Chronic pain lingers long beyond the time of normal healing. Chronic pain can result from diseases, such as shingles and diabetes, or from trauma, surgery or amputation (phantom pain). It can also occur without a known injury or disease. Chronic pain can result in lowered self-esteem, sadness, anger and depression.