What is acute pain versus chronic pain?

Acute pain is a shorter-term pain that can usually be explained by an injury or illness. It’s often relieved by medicines and usually goes away within 12 weeks. Chronic pain is a longer lasting pain that can’t always be clearly explained and may not be helped as effectively by medicines alone. If it isn’t managed it might cause you to change your daily activities and routines and feel low or depressed as a result.