Human beings experience pain at some point in their lives, and thus pain is the most common reason people seek medical attention. Pain is an uncomfortable feeling that tells you something may be wrong. However, each of us perceives acute and chronic pain differently; thus, pain is subjective and can only be accurately defined by the person in pain rather than a medical practitioner or an observer. It can be steady, throbbing, stabbing, aching, pinching, or described in many other ways. Pain is classified as either acute or chronic. Sometimes, it’s just a nuisance, like a mild headache. Other times it can be debilitating. It can bring about other physical symptoms, like nausea, dizziness, weakness or drowsiness. It can cause emotional effects like anger, depression, mood swings or irritability. Perhaps most significantly, it can change your lifestyle and impact your job, relationships and independence.

Acute Pain Management Baltimore, Bowie, Glen Burnie, Maryland 

Acute pain is usually severe and short-lived, and is often a signal that your body has been injured. It has a sudden onset and has a specific cause. It has a sharp, knife-like, or pricking character and usually doesn’t last long. Acute pain can be caused by surgical procedures, fracture of bones, dental work, cuts, burns, and labor. It’s provoked by activation of the sympathetic nervous system and muscle spasms, which are induced by trauma or insults by microorganisms in many cases. 

Chronic Pain Management Glen Burnie, Baltimore, and Bowie, MD

Chronic pain can range from mild to severe, is present for long periods of time, and is often the result of a disease that may require ongoing treatment. Chronic pain usually extends longer than six months. It can continue after the illness or injury that caused it has healed.  Chronic pain occurs in conditions where there is continued tissue destruction. Some of the diseases linked to chronic pain include osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, myalgias, cancers, back pain, and other immunosuppressive disorders. Chronic pain usually causes stress to the body that will consequently produce physical conditions and symptoms. It can also cause emotional effects like depression, anger, anxiety, and a feel of re-injury that can limit one’s ability to return to work or do leisure activities like swimming, exercise, and gym.

Medicaid and Medicare Pain Management Center in Baltimore, Glen Burnie, Bowie

While acute pain has a recognizable endpoint and serves some biological purpose, chronic pain has neither a recognizable endpoint nor a biological significance. Acute pain usually resolves or reduces as healing continues; therefore, pain relief is only needed during episodes of acute injury when pain response is more pronounced. Acute pain can be severe, intermittent, moderate, or severe. Both acute and chronic pain perception varies depending on the mood, sleep pattern, anger, and activity. Similar to acute pain, chronic pain can be mild, moderate, or severe. Chronic pain usually requires prolonged treatment of underlying conditions and symptomatic pain relief.

No matter the type of pain you may be experiencing, our physician’s are readily available to customize your pain management treatment plan.