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About pain assessment Patterns of pain |
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Pain can be acute or chronic. Acute pain generally begins rather suddenly and lasts for a short period of time. Usually this type of pain responds well to pain-relieving medications. Acute pain brings about physical responses, like increased blood pressure and pulse, and clear expressions of pain on the face and body.
Acute pain that lasts for more than a few weeks becomes chronic pain. Chronic pain is quite taxing for the person who experiences it, draining energy and diminishing hope for the future. It can affect lifestyle and emotional well- being, leaving many people feeling sad or angry.
The physical reactions seen in acute pain are often not present in chronic pain. Although people with chronic pain may show pain clearly on their faces, they more commonly look "flat" or sad, or may even appear on the outside like their usual selves.
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