The truth about pain
The International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) defines pain as ‘an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage, or described in terms of such damage.1
Chronic pain is pain that persists beyond the normal time of healing. It may be described as continuous, long-term pain of more than 12 weeks or after the time that healing would have been thought to have occurred in pain after trauma or surgery.2
Acute pain is of recent onset and probable limited duration. Acute pain is short-term pain of less than 12 weeks’ duration.2
An important factor to remember when considering pain is that it is an individual experience. Even when suffering from similar disorders, patients’ pain will be dependent on their own circumstances and perceptions.
Patients suffering from chronic pain will be affected emotionally and this can exacerbate physical pain symptoms.