Acute pain vs. chronic pain

Pain can arise for a variety of reasons. Acute pain is associated with injury and damage to tissue such as muscles, nerves, ligaments, or bones. Acute pain resolves as the injury heals and can last for 4-6 weeks.

Chronic pain is a different type of pain. It may no longer be associated with damaged tissue. It can persist for months or come and go over the course of years.

Chronic pain can change the way our bodies function, such as turning off small stabilizing muscles and turning on large ones that later become painful. It can also make us more emotionally sensitive, disrupt digestion, and disrupt sleep…

Chronic pain can persist due to complications with:

• mechanics of movement of our musculoskeletal system

• metabolism

• nervous system

• immune system

• lymphatic system

• nutrition

• emotions

• breathing

• sleep

• medication

It is important to allow your body to heal after an injury and move beyond the acute phase. If you are in the chronic pain phase, it is recommended to work with someone who can take a holistic global approach to help you understand what areas they can help you with and what you can work on to better resolve or manage your chronic pain.