Acute Pain

Taking Warning Signals seriously

Acute pain is the normal, predictable physiological response to an injurious (noxious) stimulus. It can be clearly located, and its intensity correlates with the stimulus. In contrast to chronic pain, it is of limited duration and subsides on termination of the damage or healing. Acute pain has a warning and protective function: It indicates existing damage and prevents further damage by initiating avoidance reactions.

last update:  16 Aug 2010