We have all experienced pain. But despite it being one of the most common symptoms people seek medical help for, it is also one of the most misunderstood and ineffectively treated.
Part of the reason is that one person’s experience of the same painful event can be significantly different from another’s. In this article, we identify the most common types of pain and offer some suggestions on the best type of treatment. Because there is no one-size-fits-all approach.
Types of Pain
Pain is a general term that describes any kind of unpleasant or uncomfortable sensation in the body. There are many different types and causes of pain, and these can be grouped into eight different categories to help with pain management :
Acute pain
This starts suddenly and only lasts for a short period (ie, minutes, hours, a couple of days, occasionally a month or two). It is usually caused by a specific event or injury, such as :
Chronic Pain
Chronic pain is pain that has persisted for longer than six months and is experienced most days. It may have originally started as acute pain, but the pain has continued long after the original injury or event has healed or resolved. Chronic pain can range from mild to severe and is associated with conditions such as :
Chronic pain can severely affect a person's quality of life and prevent them from returning to work or participating in physical activity. In some people, it may lead to depression or social isolation.
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