Cancer Pain – Acute, Chronic & Breakthrough Pain

Transcript

What is the difference between acute, chronic and breakthrough pain? Acute pain is usually pain that is new and usually severe and lasts a short amount of time as a body heals from some type of injury. Chronic pain can increase quickly or slowly and is pain that has been going on for more than three months. Many times, chronic pain is associated with nerve damage or injury. Usually the underlying cause needs to be treated in chronic pain, which can range from mild symptoms to severe pain complaints. Breakthrough pain is a pain flare up and oftentimes does occur despite medications for chronic pain. This pain often varies in intensity and duration and may be associated with cancer itself or certain activities.