What you need to know about Acute Pain
"Pain" is defined by the International Association for the Study of Pain as "an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience arising from actual or potential tissue damage or described in terms of such damage"
Acute pain is often described as a sharp severe pain of a short duration of up to about 3 months.
It is the body’s normal response to damage or tissue injury or inflammation such as a burn, cut soft tissue, strain or broken bone, following surgery, or even as headache, sore throat, or being stung by an insect. This type of pain usually comes on fast and goes away after a few weeks or months if treated properly.
Acute pain results from activation of the pain receptors (nociceptors) at the site of tissue damage. Acute pain plays the vital role of providing a warning signal that something is wrong and in need of further examination.
Sometimes if acute pain is not treated it may develop into longer term or chronic pain.
There are several important principles that guide the successful management of acute pain. The main one is the need to prevent pain whenever possible by administering analgesics before pain occurs.
Another is the importance to try to achieve a level of comfort that allows the patient to function adequately. For example, in postoperative patients, functional goals may be deep breathing, walking and being able to participate in physiotherapy.
An overriding principle of safe and effective pain management is to individualize therapy on the basis of the patient's unique characteristics.
Over the counter painkillers are effective at treating acute pain.
Paracetamol can be used for many types of pain but non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are better when there is clear evidence of inflammation. However these should only be used for short periods and under the guidance of your GP or pharmacist.
Alongside analgesia, early physiotherapy can be beneficial in many musculoskeletal scenarios.
Mobilisation techniques combined with massage, advice and a home exercise programme may guide the individual in the correct direction to allow for tissue repair and therefore a reduction in pain.
Source:
hprc-online.org
Spine – health.com
All about health Issue 32, P34, 2017.