Acute pain may last for a short time or a long time. It may come and go or it may be constant. Pain that starts quickly and lasts for a short time is called acute pain. Examples include pain from an injury, a headache, childbirth, or right after surgery.
Chronic pain may go on for months or years. You may have this pain from an injury that doesn't heal or from a health problem like low back pain, very bad headaches, or diabetic neuropathy. Chronic pain may make daily functioning difficult.
Evaluating and diagnosing your pain is an essential first step in solving your pain problems. UPMC Pain Medicine offers outpatient evaluation and treatment of the most complex pain problems, including: