Table 1.

Comprehensive comparison between acute and chronic pain.

Category	Acute Pain	Chronic Pain	References
Definition	A sudden, unpleasant sensory and emotional experience due to injury or surgery; short duration.	Persistent or recurrent pain lasting longer than 3–6 months, often without ongoing tissue damage.	[1,2]
Duration	Short-term (days to weeks).	Long-term (months to years).	[3]
Biological Function	Adaptive and protective; serves as a warning signal to prevent further harm.	Often maladaptive; becomes a pathological state with no protective benefit.	[3]
Causes	Acute injury, surgery, burns, or acute inflammation.	Caused by chronic diseases (e.g., arthritis, neuropathy) or sometimes idiopathic (unknown cause).	[4]
Emotional Components	Usually mild, linked to transient anxiety.	Prominent; includes depression, chronic anxiety, and psychological suffering.	[5]
Response to Treatment	Generally responsive to conventional pharmacologic treatments like analgesics and NSAIDs.	Often limited responses; requires multidisciplinary approaches (medical, psychological, physical).	[4,5]
Impact on Quality of Life	Minimal and temporary disruption in daily functioning.	A major impact on the physical, emotional, and social aspects of life.	[5]
Functional Consequences	Rarely causes long-term disability; usually resolves with healing.	Leads to ongoing functional limitations and disability (e.g., mobility, work, social activity).	[6]