Understanding Acute vs. Chronic Pain: Causes, Differences, and Patient Presentations

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Your written assignment for this module is a worksheet that describes the following:
The differences between acute and chronic pain
Reasons that a patient would experience acute versus chronic pain and patient presentation examples of each.
You should be using complete sentences to answer the questions. Ensure that you are using correct grammar. In addition, support your answers using your textbook, course materials, credible internet resources, and scholarly journals. All citations must be in APA format. Please no plagarism

 

Struggling with where to start this assignment? Follow this guide to tackle your assignment easily!


Step 1: Understand the Assignment Requirements
This worksheet requires you to:

  1. Describe the differences between acute and chronic pain.
  2. Identify the reasons why a patient may experience acute pain versus chronic pain.
  3. Provide patient presentation examples for both acute and chronic pain.

Make sure you support your answers with credible sources, such as your textbook, course materials, and scholarly articles. You will also need to cite your sources using APA format.


Step 2: Break Down the Questions

1) Describe the differences between acute and chronic pain:

  • Acute Pain:
    Acute pain is typically a short-term pain that occurs suddenly, often as a result of an injury, surgery, or illness. This type of pain usually resolves once the underlying cause is treated or healed. It is often sharp, localized, and has a clear cause. Examples include pain from a broken bone, surgery, or an infection.

  • Chronic Pain:
    Chronic pain persists for a long duration, often for months or even years. It may begin as acute pain but continues long after the initial injury or cause has been resolved. Chronic pain is often associated with conditions like arthritis, fibromyalgia, or nerve damage. This type of pain can be dull, aching, or burning, and it may not have a clear cause. It often interferes with daily life and can lead to psychological effects such as depression or anxiety.


2) Reasons a patient would experience acute versus chronic pain and patient presentation examples:

  • Acute Pain Causes and Examples:

    • Trauma or injury: A patient who has just sprained their ankle experiences acute pain as a result of the injury. The pain is sharp, localized, and usually decreases as the injury heals.
    • Surgical procedures: After undergoing surgery, a patient may experience acute pain that is temporary, usually due to the healing process and tissue repair.
    • Acute illness or infection: A patient with a kidney infection may experience sudden and sharp pain in their abdomen or lower back, which is related to the infection.
  • Chronic Pain Causes and Examples:

    • Ongoing conditions: A patient with arthritis may experience chronic pain in their joints due to inflammation and tissue damage over time. The pain may be dull and constant, fluctuating in intensity.
    • Neuropathic pain: Conditions like diabetic neuropathy can lead to chronic pain, often described as burning, tingling, or sharp pain due to nerve damage.
    • Fibromyalgia: A patient with fibromyalgia might report widespread muscle pain and tenderness, which has persisted for months or years, without a clear underlying cause.

Step 3: Gather Credible Sources

  • Look up scholarly journals, textbooks, or articles on acute pain and chronic pain. Some useful resources include:
    • Textbook chapters related to pain management.
    • Journal articles from sources like PubMed, Google Scholar, or your university’s library.
    • Websites from credible medical organizations (e.g., Mayo Clinic, American Pain Society).

Step 4: Write the Worksheet

Follow this structure to write your assignment:

  1. Introduction:
    Briefly introduce the topic and explain why understanding acute vs. chronic pain is important in healthcare settings.

  2. Differences Between Acute and Chronic Pain:
    Define and compare acute and chronic pain, explaining the duration, causes, and types of pain felt.

  3. Reasons and Patient Examples:
    Discuss the reasons patients may experience either type of pain and provide examples of patient presentations for both acute and chronic pain.

  4. Conclusion:
    Summarize your findings and reinforce the importance of understanding these two types of pain in providing effective patient care.


Step 5: Cite Your Sources
Use APA format for in-text citations and your reference list. For example:

  • In-text citation: (Author, Year)
  • Reference list:
    Author, A. A. (Year). Title of article. Title of Journal, Volume(Issue), pages.
    Author, B. B. (Year). Title of Book (Edition). Publisher.

Step 6: Proofread
Ensure you have used complete sentences, proper grammar, and that all citations are formatted correctly. Proofreading is essential to avoid any spelling, grammar, or formatting issues.


By following this guide, you will be able to answer each of the questions thoroughly and organize your responses in a clear and professional manner. Good luck with your assignment!

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