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 of pain needs to be focused on the tissue input, as this is a large portion of the condition. Chronic pain is different, thoughts and emotions make up a significant portion of the experience. This means that when experiencing chronic pain it is particularly important to treat not only the tissue input but also your thoughts and emotions.