Acute pain is the body’s natural response to injury, illness, or medical procedures. It often comes on suddenly and can feel sharp, throbbing, or intense. Typical acute pain examples include accidents or trauma, surgery, infections, and natural processes such as childbirth. While acute pain is usually short-lived and improves as the body heals, it can feel overwhelming in the moment.
Fortunately, there are effective ways to treat acute pain. Options range from simple self-care and over-the-counter medicines to physiotherapy, steroid injections, and specialist pain management services. The right approach depends on the cause and severity of your pain, and your healthcare team will guide you toward the safest and most effective treatment.
What is acute pain?
You’ve probably heard the term acute pain - maybe at the doctor’s office, or printed on a medication label. But what is acute pain, exactly?
Acute pain is short-term pain that shows up suddenly, often after an injury, illness, surgery, or childbirth. It can feel sharp or dull, mild or intense. But unlike chronic pain, acute pain usually fades as your body heals - sometimes in a few hours, sometimes over a few weeks.
Think of it as your body’s alarm system. Acute pain is your way of knowing something’s wrong. It’s a signal to pause, protect the area, and give yourself time to recover.
What is the difference between acute and chronic pain?
Pain is your body’s way of signalling that something’s wrong, but not all types of pain are the same. The two main types are acute and chronic pain, and they differ in cause, duration, and impact. Let’s look into acute vs chronic pain.
Acute pain
Acute pain comes on suddenly and is usually linked to a specific injury or illness, like a broken bone, surgery, or childbirth. It’s your body’s alarm system, alerting you to stop, rest, and heal. It typically lasts a few hours to a few weeks, depending on the cause. Once the underlying issue is treated or healed, the pain usually goes away.
Chronic pain
Chronic pain lasts more than three months, and often continues even after the original injury or illness has healed. It can be constant or come and go. Causes include arthritis, nerve damage, fibromyalgia, or unresolved injury. Chronic pain affects not just your body, but also your mental health, sleep, and daily life.
You can learn more on our chronic pain page.
Can acute pain become chronic?
Yes. If acute pain isn’t properly managed, it can develop into chronic pain. This may happen when:
- Healing is delayed or incomplete
- Pain signals continue even after the injury is gone
- The nervous system becomes hypersensitive
Early, effective treatment of acute pain is important to prevent long-term complications.
What are the types of acute pain?
Clinicians often classify types of acute pain into four main groups. Each has distinct causes and examples. Understanding the type and acute pain examples helps clinicians choose the most effective treatment strategy.
1. Musculoskeletal pain
Musculoskeletal pain is sharp or aching pain in your muscles, bones, joints, or ligaments. Treatments include rest, ice, compression, elevation (R.I.C.E.), and pain relief medication. Examples include:
- A sprained ankle from a misstep
- A fractured wrist after a fall
- Muscle strain from sudden overuse
2. Surgical (post-operative) pain
Surgical post-operative pain follows surgery as tissues heal. It is usually short-term, lasting days to weeks, and managed with prescribed pain medication, physical therapy, and wound care. Examples include:
- Pain after knee replacement surgery
- Discomfort following abdominal surgery
3. Illness-related pain
Illness related pain is caused by infections or medical conditions. It is often visceral pain, described as deep, squeezing, or pressure-like. Treatment focuses on resolving the underlying illness. Examples include:
- Appendicitis causing sharp acute abdominal pain
- Kidney stones leading to intense flank pain
- Ear infection causing throbbing earache
4. Procedural pain
Procedural pain is linked to medical or dental procedures, or natural processes like childbirth. It is typically short-lived and managed with local anaesthesia, analgesics, or supportive care. Examples include:
- Labour contractions during childbirth
- Tooth extraction or root canal pain
What causes acute pain?
Acute pain causes include:
- Injury or trauma – such as broken bones, sprains, cuts, or blunt force impacts (e.g., car accidents, sports injuries).
- Surgical or medical procedures – pain following operations, dental work, or injections.
- Childbirth – contractions and delivery can cause intense but temporary pain.
- Illness or health conditions – infections, appendicitis, kidney stones, or other acute medical problems.
- Tissue damage – from burns, overuse, or disease affecting muscles, joints, or organs.
- Muscle strain or pulls – sudden overexertion leading to sharp pain.
- Skin injuries – cuts, abrasions, or burns that trigger immediate pain responses.
How is acute pain diagnosed?
Diagnosing acute pain usually starts with a clinical appointment. Your healthcare provider will:
- Ask about your symptoms, medical history, and when the pain began
- Examine the affected area
- Ask you to rate your pain on a scale (for example, from 0 = no pain to 10 = worst pain imaginable)
This helps them understand the severity and impact of your pain.
Possible Tests
Depending on the suspected cause, your provider may order tests such as:
- X-rays – to check for broken bones or joint problems
- MRI or CT scans – to look at soft tissues, muscles, or organs
- Blood tests – to detect infection or inflammation
- Urine tests – to rule out kidney or bladder issues
- Physical function tests – to assess movement, strength, or flexibility
These tests help confirm the source of pain and guide treatment.
Acute pain treatment
Acute pain is usually short-lived, but it can feel overwhelming in the moment. The good news is that there are several effective ways to manage it, ranging from self-care and over-the-counter medicines to physiotherapy, injections, and specialist pain services. The right approach depends on the cause and severity of your pain, and your healthcare team will guide you toward the safest, most effective option.
In the sections that follow, we’ll explore the main treatment options in more detail.
You may also consider pain management. Learn more about tailored approaches on our Pain Management page.
Medications for acute pain
When you experience acute pain, medication can help reduce discomfort and support recovery. The best approach is to use the lowest effective dose, combine medicines safely, and stop stronger drugs as soon as possible.
- Over-the-counter (OTC) - Paracetamol for mild pain; NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen, diclofenac) to reduce pain and swelling.
- Prescription - Opioids (codeine, tramadol, morphine, oxycodone) for short-term relief of moderate to severe pain.
- Combination therapy - OTC and prescription medicines may be used together under medical guidance.
Physiotherapy for acute pain
Gentle movement can often help ease acute pain. While rest is important, staying active with safe, guided exercises can reduce stiffness, improve mobility, support healing, and build strength to protect against future injury. Even simple activities like stretching, walking, or light strengthening can make a difference.
How a Physiotherapist can help
A physiotherapist designs a program tailored to your condition and recovery goals. For example:
- Shoulder pain - they may create a step-by-step plan of gentle stretches and strengthening exercises to restore movement and reduce discomfort.
- Individualised care - your physio will adjust the program to your pain level, ensuring exercises are safe and effective.
- Activity guidance - they’ll help you balance rest with activity, so you recover without overstraining.
You can learn more on our physiotherapy page.
Steroid injections for acute pain
Sometimes, when acute pain is linked to joint or soft tissue problems like shoulder pain, knee pain, or tendon inflammation, your healthcare provider may recommend a steroid (cortisone) injection.
How it works
- Reduces inflammation - cortisone is a powerful anti-inflammatory medicine. When injected directly into the painful area, it calms swelling and irritation.
- Relieves pain - by reducing inflammation, the injection can ease pain and improve movement.
- Targets the source - unlike tablets, which work throughout the body, injections deliver medicine right where it’s needed.
When it helps
Steroid injections are often used for:
- Acute shoulder pain (e.g., rotator cuff strain or bursitis)
- Joint pain (knee, hip, or ankle)
- Soft tissue pain (such as tendonitis or bursitis)
- Spinal pain (in some cases, injections can help with acute flare-ups)
What to expect
- Relief can begin within a few days and last for weeks or months.
- The injection is usually quick and performed in a clinic setting.
- Some people may feel temporary soreness at the injection site.
- Your doctor will advise how often injections can be safely repeated.
You can learn more on our cortisone injections page.
When to call your doctor: How to tell if acute pain is serious
Most acute pain improves as your body heals, but sometimes pain can be a sign of something more serious. Knowing the warning signs can help you decide when to seek urgent medical care.
Red flags to watch for
- Sudden, severe chest pain or back pain – may indicate heart or lung problems.
- Trouble breathing, dizziness, or fainting – could signal a serious medical emergency.
- Extreme muscle weakness – especially if it prevents you from doing routine activities.
- High fever with stiff neck – may point to infection such as meningitis.
- Hot, swollen joint with fever or chills – could be a joint infection (septic arthritis).
- Very bad joint pain after a fall or injury – especially if you cannot walk or put weight on the joint.
- Loss of sensation, tingling, or inability to move a limb – may indicate nerve damage.
- Severe injury with bleeding or inability to move – requires immediate emergency care.
When to seek help
See a GP or specialist if:
- Pain is stopping you from doing normal activities or affecting your sleep
- It’s getting worse or keeps coming back
- It hasn’t improved after treating it at home for 2 weeks
- Your joints feel stiff for more than 30 minutes after waking up
Ask for an urgent GP appointment or contact NHS 111 if:
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You have joint pain and the skin around it is swollen and feels hot
-
You feel hot, shivery, or generally unwell with a high temperature or sweating
Go to A&E or call 999 if:
- You have very bad joint pain after a fall or injury
- You’re unable to walk or put weight on a joint
- Your joint has moved out of place
- You experience sudden, severe chest or back pain
- You have trouble breathing, dizziness, or fainting
- You feel extreme muscle weakness or loss of movement
- You have a high fever with a stiff neck
- You lose sensation or experience tingling in a limb.
Acute pain management at Ramsay Health Care
At Ramsay Health Care, patients receive expert, personalised care for acute pain from diagnosis to recovery. Whether you're dealing with post-surgical discomfort, joint pain, or a sudden injury, Ramsay’s multidisciplinary teams offer tailored treatment plans that combine medical expertise with compassionate support.
- Access to leading consultants and physiotherapists
- On-site diagnostics including imaging and lab tests
- Advanced pain relief options including cortisone injections
- Integrated rehabilitation and physiotherapy services
With a focus on safety, dignity, and fast access to care, Ramsay helps you get back to feeling like yourself sooner.
Book an appointment today and start your recovery with confidence.
Acute Pain FAQs
