Difference Between Chronic, Acute and Regular Pain

What’s the difference between chronic, acute and regular pain and how can treatment for a legitimate ailment lead to tolerance, dependence or abuse?

Most prescription drug abusers start out taking a medication as directed for pain management. All too soon, though, they find they are taking the drug for other reasons and are unable to stop. To get an idea of how this happens, it’s best to go back to the beginning and look at different types of pain.

Pain Definitions

Pain—An unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage or described in terms of such damage.

Acute Pain—The normal, predicted physiological response to a noxious chemical, thermal or mechanical stimulus. This is typically associated with invasive procedures, trauma or disease. Acute pain is generally time-limited.

Chronic Pain—A state in which pain persists beyond the usual course of an acute disease or healing of an injury. It may or may not be associated with an acute or chronic pathologic process that causes continuous or intermittent pain over months or years.

For the treatment of acute or chronic pain, prescription medications (in the form of opioid pain relievers) are often used. They can be lifesavers for someone following a painful surgery or procedure or a traumatic accident. The problem is, after a period of time, an increased dosage is needed to produce the same pain-relieving effects. This state, called “tolerance,” is not the same as addiction. It merely means that the individual is experiencing a diminished response to the medication.

Physical dependence is another state that doesn’t equal addiction, but it can be dangerous. Physical and emotional signs will appear at this point if use of the drug is stopped or reduced dramatically. Physical dependence and tolerance are normal physiological consequences of extended opioid therapy for pain.

When does dependence or tolerance cross over into substance abuse? Anytime a drug is taken for reasons other than its prescribed purpose that is abuse. Conversely, full-blown addiction is characterized by cravings, compulsive use and an impaired control over drug use.

Addiction Help

If you or a family member is struggling with an addiction to prescription medication or other substances, call La Paloma at our toll-free number, 877-345-1887. Someone is there to take your call 24 hours a day and answer any questions you have about treatment, financing or insurance.