Acute to Chronic Pain: How We Can Help

Pain is a complex and personal experience. One may experience more intense pain than the other person, even if they have the exact same condition and mechanism of injury. Feeling pain is your body’s way of signaling that something isn’t right.

You have been working hard and doing well in your job until one day, you feel a sharp pain that shoots through your lower back. You pause, hoping it’s just some random pain that will self-heal so you can continue giving your 100% on your work. However, days later, the pain lingers. Weeks pass, and it’s still there and it's starting to affect your daily activities. You're now wondering: Is this just a temporary issue, or is it something more? Will it further affect my life?

Pain can be described and categorized in various ways. When considering its duration, pain is typically classified as acute, subacute, or chronic. Although the definitions for these categories may overlap in the literature, recognizing their differences is what's important. This is for effectively addressing pain and preventing it from worsening.

Acute pain: This is the kind of pain that hits you suddenly. An example of this would be that sharp ache when you pull a muscle on your neck or back. This pain can restrict daily activities for one month or less. In some literature, the pain may last up to 12 weeks and is often a direct result of an injury or a sudden illness. Acute pain serves as a warning to the brain, prompting the body to protect itself. Muscle guarding and spasms often occur around the site of injury to protect the area from further damage.

Subacute pain: This phase can last from six weeks to three months. Note that the definition overlaps with acute pain and chronic pain in some literature. The main concern for subacute pain is that it is the critical period where the body attempts to heal. If the injury or condition is not managed, the pain can transition to a chronic type of pain.

A research published in 2011 studied the characteristic differences between subacute and chronic pain. To summarize, they found that the main differences between the subacute and chronic groups are their pain intensity ratings, pain location, and time-dependent variability of their spontaneous pain. The chronic group reported higher intensity pain and 15% of the participants reported bilateral presence of pain.

Chronic pain: Chronic pain is defined as pain that is present for more than three months or pain that restricts daily activities for longer than 12 weeks. This kind of pain often develops slowly but is persistent, and constantly recurs over time. Chronic pain affects a person's quality of life and can both be physically and emotionally stressful. Conditions like fibromyalgia, arthritis, and cancer can cause chronic pain that is challenging to manage. Past injuries that were not treated correctly can also cause chronic pain.

The transition from acute to chronic pain can be avoided with the help of early intervention. This can delay or prevent the progression. Some studies have shown that timely and stage-appropriate treatment can highly reduce the likelihood of acute pain becoming chronic pain. There is currently an increasing awareness of early intervention for pain and injuries. Pain interventions can both be pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic and there is a growing recognition of multidisciplinary programs to manage pain. There are a lot of options for pain management treatments. How can you know what works for you?

Different treatments have different effects on different people. There is no absolute solution to pain because as said earlier, pain is a personal experience. NYC Acupuncture + Wellness offers both traditional East Asian medical treatment and modern nonpharmacologic modalities for pain management.

Holistic Approach: We treat the whole person, not just the symptoms. Whether you’re dealing with pain, stress, or other health concerns, our treatments are designed to support your overall well-being.
Acupuncture's Versatility: Beyond pain relief, acupuncture can address a range of symptoms, from digestive issues to anxiety, making it a powerful tool in your wellness journey.
Less likely to provide adverse effects: Acupuncture and other East Asian modalities that we offer can be used as a treatment for pain without giving you the same adverse effects as taking opioids and other modern pain medications.
Healing Environment: Our office is designed to be a sanctuary of calm. From the moment you walk in, you’ll feel the difference—our space is warm, welcoming, and designed to put you at ease.

In addition, East Asian medicine practice is open to a collaborative treatment approach, meaning most practitioners respect and are more than willing to coordinate with conventional medicine doctors to provide the best level of care and treatment outcome for the patient.

What treatment modalities can NYC Acupuncture + Wellness offer for the patients? Can NYC Acuwell treat acute, subacute, and chronic pain?

In general, we offer treatments for acute, subacute, and chronic types of pain. Our treatment plans are comprehensive and individualized based on a lot of factors. That is why we require all new patients to have their initial consultation before they can receive treatment. NYC Acupuncture + Wellness offers the following modalities for pain management:

Acupuncture: This is the main modality treatment that we use for the majority of conditions. By stimulating specific points in the body, acupuncture can reduce pain and promote healing. It’s effective in treating almost all types of pain by addressing not just the symptoms, but also the underlying imbalances.
Cold Laser Therapy: This non-invasive treatment uses low levels of laser light to reduce inflammation and promote tissue repair, making it a great option for acute and subacute pain. Cold laser is also an alternative for those who have reluctance with needles.
Cupping: This is another East Asian medicine technique that involves placing cups on the skin to create suction. Cupping improves blood flow and reduces muscle tension, offering relief from pain.
Medical Massage and Gua Sha: These manual therapies are designed to release tension, improve circulation, and reduce pain, whether it’s from an acute injury or a chronic condition.
Herbal Medications: Traditional East Asian herbal formulas can address the root causes of pain, helping to restore balance and promote healing. Depending on the condition, many forms of herbal medications can be used to address pain. Most herbal treatments for pain are topically applied like ointments and herbal soaks.

If you’re experiencing acute to subacute pain, don’t wait for it to become a chronic issue. If you're experiencing chronic pain, do not fret! Whether you're dealing with acute pain, or you're finding ways to deal with your chronic condition, we're here to support you every step of the way. NYC Acupuncture + Wellness is here to help you with our personalized treatment plans that cater to your specific needs.

Book an appointment and experience the high level of care and attention we provide by clicking this link. Let us guide you on the path to recovery in a space that feels like home.