There are different types of pain, and knowing which type we're
dealing with helps us develop the best treatment plan for each
resident in need. Acute pain tells us that something is going wrong.
It may be produced by an injury or disease, and it's usually
associated with anxiety, fear, and unstable vital signs. With acute
pain, we find the underlying cause --appendicitis, for example--
provide treatment, and monitor healing.
Chronic pain may be nonmalignant or malignant. As the name suggests, malignant pain is caused by cancer and may be controlled in a way that's somewhat different from chronic nonmalignant pain, such as the pain caused by arthritis. In either case, chronic pain is not acute pain that's simply lasting a long time, and we do not treat it as such. Control of pain that is expected to last a week or two requires a different approach from pain control that may be needed, from time to time or continuously, for months or even years.
