Types Of Pain: Know Your Pain Type

Types of Pain can be grouped into so many ways. Pain can be classified based on its dimensions, which include physical, sensory, behavioural, sociocultural, cognitive, affective, and spiritual. 

Pain can fit into more than one category, while some pain can be temporary while others can be lifelong conditions. However, for easy understanding, we will group it into 2 distinct types.

Acute Pain

Acute pain is a type of pain that begins suddenly and ends when the underlying cause is treated or healed. It’s usually sharp and can feel like throbbing, burning, stabbing, tingling, weakness, or numbness. Acute pain is a warning signal that something is or could be damaging to the body. 

Examples of Acute Pain:

1. Surgical Pain: Pain experienced after surgery due to tissue damage and healing processes.
2. Broken Bones: The intense pain that comes immediately after a fracture.
3. Dental Pain: Pain from a toothache or after a dental procedure.
4. Burns: Pain following thermal, chemical, or electrical burns.
5. Sprains and Strains: Pain from overstretching or tearing ligaments or muscles.
6. Cuts and Lacerations: Sharp pain from skin or deeper tissue injuries.
7. Childbirth: The pain associated with labour and delivery.

Acute pain is often managed with medications, rest, and other therapeutic interventions to promote healing and relieve discomfort. Unlike chronic pain, acute pain has a shorter duration and usually resolves as the body heals.

Acute pain can be caused by:

• Injuries, such as broken bones or strained muscles
• Dental work
• Surgery
• Childbirth
• Infections
• Burns
• Overuse
• Other environmental stress 

Acute pain usually doesn’t last longer than six months. It goes away when the body heals itself, or when the body can no longer detect the source of the pain. 

Pain that lasts or recurs for more than three months is considered chronic pain. 

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can help relieve acute pain. 

Chronic Pain

Chronic pain is defined as pain that persists for more than 12 weeks or beyond the expected healing period. Unlike acute pain, a normal sensation that alerts us to possible injury, chronic pain can continue even after the injury or illness that caused it has healed. It can be persistent or intermittent and can affect any part of the body.

Examples of Chronic Pain:

1. Arthritis: Joint pain and inflammation, often affecting the hands, knees, hips, and spine.
2. Back Pain: Especially lower back pain, which can be due to various causes including injury, degenerative diseases, or poor posture.
3. Fibromyalgia: A condition characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and tenderness in localized areas.
4. Neuropathic Pain: Pain caused by nerve damage, often resulting in burning, shooting, or stabbing sensations.
5. Migraines: Severe headaches often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound.
6. Cancer Pain: Pain associated with cancer or its treatment, which can be severe and persistent.
7. Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS): A chronic pain condition often affecting the limbs, characterized by severe pain, swelling, and changes in skin colour and temperature.

Chronic pain can significantly impact a person’s quality of life, leading to issues like anxiety, depression, fatigue, and sleep disturbances. It’s important to seek medical advice for proper diagnosis and management.

To improve quality of life, chronic pain should be treated in a multidisciplinary setting that combines pharmacological, physical, and psychological therapies

Nociceptive Pain

This is pain from physical damage to the body. It is usually sharp, aching, or throbbing.

• Somatic pain: Originates from skin, muscles, joints, and bones (e.g., a cut or broken bone).
• Visceral pain: Comes from internal organs (e.g., appendicitis or gallstones).

Neuropathic Pain

This pain occurs when the nervous system is damaged or not working properly. It often feels like burning, tingling, shooting, or stabbing.

Examples:

• Sciatica
• Diabetic neuropathy
• Postherpetic neuralgia (shingles pain)

Psychogenic Pain

This type of pain is influenced by emotional, psychological, or behavioral factors. It doesn’t mean the pain isn’t real—rather, the cause is tied more to mental health than to a direct physical injury.

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Pain by Cause or Mechanism

• Inflammatory Pain: Caused by inflammation (e.g., arthritis).
• Functional Pain: No obvious structural or tissue damage (e.g., fibromyalgia, IBS).
• Breakthrough Pain: Sudden spikes of pain despite regular pain management (common in cancer patients).

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Pain Management Strategies

Regardless of type, pain is best treated using a personalised approach:

• Medication: NSAIDs, opioids (for severe pain), antidepressants, anticonvulsants.
• Physical Therapy: Improves movement and strength.
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT): Helps manage the emotional toll of chronic pain.
• Complementary Therapies: Acupuncture, massage, relaxation techniques.