Chronic vs. Acute Pain
| Characteristic | Acute Pain | Chronic Pain |
| Cause | Generally known | Often unknown |
| Duration of Pain | Short, well-characterized | Persists after healing ≥ 3 months |
| Treatment Approach | Resolution of underlying cause, usually self-limited | Underlying cause & pain disorder; outcome is often pain control, not cure |
When experiencing acute pain, much of the management is focused on the tissue input since this is largely equates to the condition. However, chronic pain is different since thoughts and emotions create a significant portion of the experience. Therefore, when experiencing chronic pain, it is particularly important to treat not only the tissue input, but also your thoughts and emotions.