Chronic pain often gets the spotlight, but acute pain matters, too. Pain after surgery or an injury isn’t something to ignore or “power through” with the expectation that it’ll eventually go away.
“Treating acute pain is crucial for effective healing, because when it’s left unmanaged, the pain can lead to even worse outcomes,” says Bryan Marascalchi, MD, an anesthesiologist and pain medicine specialist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville. Aside from relieving discomfort, alleviating pain promptly can speed recovery, lessen the risk of complications, improve your emotional well-being, and — perhaps most important — prevent it from becoming chronic pain. “Acute pain is defined as a temporary discomfort caused by injury or surgery, serving as a protective mechanism for the body to prevent further harm,” says Dr. Marascalchi. Acute pain comes on suddenly, perhaps after a fall or medical procedure, and typically lasts under six months.
But here’s the good news: Acute pain is manageable, as it often goes away with effective treatment. Read on to learn why treating it quickly and effectively is the best approach.
1. Healing Happens Faster
Your recovery will slow if acute pain isn’t addressed, says Marascalchi. “Pain often limits activity, making the healing time longer and allowing blood clots to form and muscle weakness, stiffness, and reduced circulation to develop.”
Joint injuries in particular need proper acute pain management to control inflammation and improve mobility. “One example is frozen shoulder,” he says, “because untreated, this condition leads to worsening stiffness, severe loss of motion, and difficulty with daily activities, potentially lasting years.”
2. Body Stress Will Ease
When pain is severe, it can tax the body, “activating the stress response, leading to a faster heart rate, higher blood pressure, and rising cortisol levels,” says Marascalchi.
When the stress of pain is prolonged, the body is strained, inflammation increases, and injuries can’t heal as well. This can “weaken the immune system, highlighting the importance of effective pain relief in supporting overall recovery and well-being,” he says.
3. You May Prevent Chronic Pain
“Acute pain that isn’t treated might be followed by chronic pain, though sometimes that happens because there is a serious disorder that’s not being treated in the right way,” says Stefan Kertesz, MD, a pain management specialist and professor of medicine at the University of Alabama Heersink School of Medicine in Birmingham.
Still, it’s possible acute pain could transition into chronic pain via a process called central sensitization. “This occurs when the nervous system becomes hypersensitive, amplifying pain signals and resulting in prolonged pain — even after the initial injury has healed,” says Marascalchi.
4. You’ll Sleep More Soundly
Sound sleep can feel like an unachievable dream when you’re in pain. Yet it’s important for healing and overall health.
Not getting enough z’s also plays directly into the terrible triad. “Chronic sleep deprivation caused by pain can lower pain tolerance, creating a vicious cycle where heightened sensitivity to pain exacerbates the experience and makes effective treatment more challenging,” says Marascalchi.
5. You May Dodge Dangerous Approaches
When you’re in pain, whether from back spasms, an infected tooth, or another ailment, you’ll do almost anything to make it stop. But when the solutions veer into risky territory, the results can be devastating. In some cases, people in extreme pain may misuse prescriptions or even take illegal drugs to ease pain — and potentially become addicted. Others may opt for unnecessary surgeries or try unproven methods to alleviate pain.
6. You Protect Your Mental Health
Dr. Kertesz agrees that pain affects mental health, though it’s bidirectional. Fortunately, “For an acute injury, this isn’t as big an issue,” he says, as it can be with more chronic pain.
7. You Can Focus on Daily Life
When you have acute pain, it can be hard to think of anything else. Home life, work, diet, exercise, hobbies, and personal relationships are often kicked to the curb. “Pain can disrupt everything, leading to a diminished quality of life,” says Marascalchi. Plus, very often, it’s not just the person in pain who hurts. Family members and friends can also struggle, particularly if the condition becomes chronic.
The Takeaway
- Addressing acute pain leads to faster recovery. Toughing it out won’t help pain and may even slow healing, reduce mobility, and turn short-term pain into a chronic problem.
- Your emotions, sleep, and stress are at risk. By undertreating or even ignoring acute pain, you may develop higher blood pressure, a faster heart rate, poor sleep, and a compromised immune system, as well as strain your mental health.
- Controlling the pain now may help prevent a chronic condition later. Acute pain management can help you avoid a long-term issue that may spiral into a situation that affects every aspect of your life, from family and work to diet, exercise, and mental health.
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