What type of pain do I have?

Pain is your body’s way of telling you that something might be wrong. We all experience pain differently and at different intensities.

If you are experiencing pain and want to talk about the way you're feeling with someone you know or a healthcare professional, it can be useful to be able to describe the type of pain you have.

There are 2 types of pain:

• Acute pain
• Chronic pain

If you need help with managing the symptoms of your pain, you can speak to your local pharmacist or GP or contact NHS 111 for support.

Acute pain starts suddenly. It is your nervous system’s response to an injury, illness or medical procedure. You might experience this type of pain because of exercise-related injuries, cuts or burns, childbirth or surgery.

This type of pain usually goes away on its own as you recover.

If you think you’re experiencing acute pain, there are some symptoms you can look out for. These include:

• Stabbing or sharp pains
• Burning
• Throbbing
• Numbness.

You may find it useful to use pain medications like paracetamol or ibuprofen to help manage your pain. These types of medicines help to alleviate pain, bring down fevers and reduce inflammation.

Depending on the type of injury you have, you may find rest, using cold or warm compresses or physiotherapy helpful in reducing your symptoms.

If your pain feels unmanageable or severe, you should go to A&E or call NHS 111.

Chronic pain lasts for three months or more.¹ If you’ve been in pain for this long, you should talk to your GP.

There are a lot of different conditions associated with chronic pain. Some of the most common are:

• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• Arthritis
• Fibromyalgia
• Temporomandibular disorder (TMD)
• Lupus.^2,3

Some people also experience chronic pain after an injury or a surgical procedure. Sometimes we don’t know why a person is experiencing chronic pain, even after tests.⁴ But there are still ways to manage it.

Many people who have chronic pain also have another condition. One study found that 71.6% of people with chronic pain have at least one other physical or psychiatric condition.² Even though there isn’t a definitive answer to why chronic pain happens, there are strategies you can use to help you manage.

Acute pain can become chronic pain if the cause isn’t resolved.⁶ For example, acute pain caused by an ankle injury can become chronic if the injury isn’t treated properly.

If you’re concerned about an injury or illness that is causing you pain outside of a normal recovery window, speak to your pharmacist or GP. They can advise you on the approaches you can take to manage your pain.

Intermittent pain comes and goes. This may appear in a few different ways. If you have a chronic condition where your symptoms sometimes flare-up, like migraines, you may experience intermittent headaches.

People who have conditions like endometriosis or PCOS might notice that their symptoms are triggered or worsen when they start to menstruate (lose period blood).

If you have intermittent moderate or severe pain and you don’t know why, you should see your GP. It could be a sign of a serious health condition.

How you manage your pain will depend on what type of pain you have and what works for you. If you have minor, acute pain like a headache, you can usually manage this at home with rest and painkillers like ibuprofen.⁷

See a pharmacist or GP if you’re struggling with pain due to an existing health condition. They may be able to recommend different ways you can manage it.

Always make an appointment with your GP if you are experiencing chronic pain or moderate to severe intermittent pain.

Call 999 or go to A&E immediately if you have:

• Chest pain
• A sudden and severe headache
• Abdominal pain with other symptoms, like blood in your vomit or stool.^7,8,9