What’s the difference between acute and chronic pain?
Pain usually starts when nerves send signals to your brain, telling it you have an injury or illness.
Acute pain doesn’t last long. It may result from an injury or illness.
With chronic pain, your body might heal but your brain keeps getting “pain signals.” The pain becomes persistent. Chronic pain is often “invisible.” You might look healthy to others, while still suffering from extreme pain.
Watch this video about the brain-pain connection, and how to tackle chronic pain.
Learn about the symptoms and causes of chronic pain.