Differences between Acute and Chronic Pain
Acute pain usually appears suddenly and is caused by a specific event. Acute pain has a sharp quality to it. It usually lasts no more than six months (Ignatavicius, D., 2018). It goes away when the underlying cause of the pain is no longer present. Surgery, broken bones, dental work, burns or cuts, labour, and childbirth are all acute pain. After the acute pain subsides, a person can resume normal activities.
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A patient suffering from a gallbladder attack is an example of acute pain. The patient would complain of sudden mild to severe abdominal pain in the mid-to-upper-right quadrant. It can come and go and radiate to the back and chest. In most cases, the patient will experience nausea, vomiting, fever, chills, and diarrhoea. If the gallbladder is distended, the patient is at risk of having it rupture. This patient would be treated with antibiotics and surgery and pain-free within two weeks (Ignatavicius, D., 2018).
Chronic pain is defined as pain that persists for more than six months. This type of pain can persist even after the illness or injury that caused it has healed or disappeared (Ignatavicius, D., 2018). Pain signals can be present in the nervous system for weeks, months, or even years. Some people experience chronic pain even when no prior injury or visible body damage exists. Chronic pain has been linked to various conditions, including headache, arthritis, cancer, nerve pain, back pain, and fibromyalgia pain. Chronic pain patients can have physically stressful effects on their bodies. These symptoms include fatigue, changes in appetite, tense muscles, and limited mobility. Anger, depression, anxiety, and fear of re-injury are some of the emotional effects of chronic pain. Such fear may make it difficult to return to regular work or leisure activities (Ignatavicius, D., 2018).
Patients suffering from chronic pain, such as lung disease, would exhibit symptoms such as difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, coughing up blood or mucous, inability to stop coughing, and pain in the chest and lungs when breathing in or out. This patient will have had these symptoms and pain for at least 3-6 months. Chronic pain can often lead to depression because of the hopelessness of constant pain with no relief or cure. Chronic pain patients may appear depressed, angry, frustrated, or tired. Chronic pain can lead to social isolation and interfere with daily activities.
Other Related Post: Patient Management and Delegation
References
Ignatavicius, D.D., & Workman, M.L. (2018). Medical-surgical nursing: Patient-centered Collaborative care (9th ed.). St. Louis, Missouri: Elsevier.
Treas, L. (09/2013). Basic Nursing: Concepts, Skills & Reasoning. [Bookshelf Ambassadored]. Retrieved from https://ambassadored.vitalsource.com/#/books/9780803640542/
Taylor, C. (2015). Fundamentals of Nursing, 8th Edition. [Bookshelf Ambassadored]. Retrieved from https://ambassadored.vitalsource.com/#/books/9781469893549
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Question 
Your written assignment for this module is a worksheet that describes the following:
- The differences between acute and chronic pain
Differences between Acute and Chronic Pain
- Reasons that a patient would experience acute versus chronic pain and patient presentation examples of each.
