Chronic Vs Acute Pains and Treatments

You can suffer permanent health problems no matter who you are if you sustain a serious injury. By understanding the difference between acute and chronic injuries, you can avoid chronic injuries. Visit a sports medicine clinic today.

Pain that does not last more than three to four months is considered acute, whereas pain that lasts more than six months is chronic. Those suffering from subacute pain are categorized as subacute. There has been a belief that pain is linked to tissue health. Injuries and pains are often associated with the tissue. 

Effective treatment practices also differ between acute and chronic pain. Chronic pain persists long after acute pain disappears. Health professionals with knowledge of pathophysiology and tissue healing can treat acute pain effectively in primary care. Health care professionals provide chronic pain patients with specialized knowledge, and they often offer treatment in a team setting. Pain psychology, a biopsychosocial perspective, and neuroplasticity can all find application in treating chronic pain.

In addition to requiring adequate pain relief, acute and chronic pain share another similarity. All the adverse effects of pain worsen when untreated, no matter how hard we try to suppress it. Typically, acute pain decreases within a few days of the injury. Then acute physiotherapy might be beneficial for you, especially if your pain has a substantial negative impact on your life or function. In the face of uncontrolled pain, it is better to seek care rather than be tough. Acupuncture and intramuscular stimulation are among the common treatments offered by a sports medicine clinic. Interdisciplinary, more complex treatment is required when simple acute pain services do not improve function and decrease pain. Although chronic pain services cannot be definitively prescribed one month after an injury, these services should be considered at three months when daily medications or acute pain services do not provide the expected results. Pain relief is also essential for chronic pain sufferers; however, they also require interventions specific to chronic pain – pain education, goal Treatment services include medication and psychological counseling, goal-setting, self-regulation, and stress management.

Consult a doctor when needed

Acute injuries

You should go straight to the sports medicine clinic if you suspect your injury is severe.

When a chronic injury occurs

Overuse injuries often have subtle symptoms and occur over time. That can result in a delay in diagnosis and treatment, and delays can lead to more serious or disabling injuries.

You should consult your doctor if your minor injury does not heal with home treatment. A health condition that hasn’t been diagnosed or treated could also affect your training or performance.