What is Acute Pain?

Acute pain can be caused by anything that brings discomfort or irritation.

When the human body experiences an unnatural and unpleasant sensation, the nerve receptors send signals to the brain that something is wrong. This feeling is commonly known as pain, but there are different variations and levels of pain. An injury can put anyone at risk subsequent pain, but what does acute pain mean, and how should you manage it once you begin to experience it?

Pain can generally be placed into one of two categories: chronic pain and acute pain. The fundamental distinction between the two is duration of the discomfort. Typically, chronic pain is any pain that lasts more than six months. Often, it manifests itself gradually over time and its causes can be difficult to detect. In comparison, acute pain is usually severe and temporary.

While chronic pain is ongoing, acute pain is generated by an immediate source of discomfort, such as:

● Broken/fractured bones

● Burns

● Cuts or lacerations

● Complications/irregularities during surgery or medical operations (childbirth, dental procedures, etc.)

Acute Back Pain

Your back is crucial your body’s structural ability to function every day. Movements like walking, standing, sitting, as well as more strenuous variations of motion like running and lifting are all activities which are wholly dependent on your backs’ capacity to support your frame and maintain your balance.

Because of the body’s sustained reliance on the back to support various muscles and the skeleton, an overwhelming 80% of people experience some form of back pain as they age. But while age-related back pain is often chronic, acute back pain is characterized by its circumstantial nature; that is, it can happen to anyone, regardless of age or background. Some of the most common causes of acute back pain include:

● Attempting to lift a heavy object

● Impact from a car accident

● Sports injury

● Any incident in which your coccyx (tailbone) or spine stops your fall and bears your body’s full weight upon impact

Acute Lower Back Pain

Another common area of acute back pain is in the lumbar region, that is, in and around your spine towards the small of your back. Acute lower back pain can affect your spinal health and posture and can even lead to eventual chronic issues like osteoporosis if it is ignored or mishandled when the pain is still treatable.

As is the case with acute pain in other regions of your back, pain in the lower back is often brought on by an abrupt injury to this region’s muscles and ligaments. These muscles and tissue ligaments in your lower back can tear in the event of strenuous activity, awkward falls, or improper lifting techniques. Discomfort in this area can also occur in the form of muscle spasms.

Acute Pain Management and Treatment Options in San Antonio

Once acute pain has been treated, a patient should be able to return to normal without any further issues. Chronic pain, on the other hand, can linger for months or even years. If acute pain is not treated quickly and carefully, it can develop into a chronic issue. Because of this, waiting until it is too late to address acute pain can lead to a variety of problems in the future.

Don’t wait until it’s too late. If you are one of the countless San Antonio residents suffering from acute pain, the staff at Texas Pain Specialists is here to help. Our skilled team of pain doctors, nurse practitioners, and healthcare professionals can help answer all your questions regarding acute pain, and how to fight it effectively.

We offer a variety of treatment options for the reduction and alleviation designed to directly target the origin of the pain, including:

● Injections

● Surgical options when warranted

● Non-surgical alternatives, such as regenerative cell therapy

● Various customizable treatments

At Texas Pain Specialists, we are dedicated to locating the source of the pain and mitigating its effects on the body as soon as possible. Dr. Raul Martinez and his team of highly trained San Antonio acute pain specialists have over 18 years of experience attending to the pain management needs of patients all across San Antonio.

For more information, and to locate a pain clinic near you, contact the knowledgeable experts at Texas Pain Specialists. We’ve got your back.

Contact our doctors and view possible treatment options today.

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