September is Pain Awareness Month which aims to shed light on the truths about pain and pain management. Understanding pain can be difficult for individuals who haven’t experienced pain or required pain management. Different types of pain require different treatments, and some pain can be lifelong. It’s important to understand the complexities of pain.
Understanding Pain
Pain is “an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with, or resembling that associated with, actual or potential tissue damage“. Affecting more Americans than diabetes, heart disease, and cancer combine, pain is the most common reason Americans seek health care. Approximately one in every four Americans experience pain lasting more than 24 hours.
Causes of acute pain is often something specific, sudden, and doesn’t normally last longer than 6 months. Surgery, broken bones, dental work, burns or cuts, and labor and childbirth are common causes of acute pain. After experiencing acute pain, an individual is usually able to carry on with life without lifelong pain.
Chronic pain is an ongoing condition that generally last longer than 6 months. Some people experience chronic pain even without obvious body damage or a prior injury. Living with pain can affect daily life and become debilitating. Chronic pain is the leading cause of long-term disability.
The Merdes Law Firm has been helping injured Alaskans for more than 30 years. It’s who we are. And while we hope you never need us … We’re here if you do. ~ Ward Merdes
Source: “Pain Awareness” by The American Chronic Pain Association | Photo
