Pain management is a medical specialty that addresses pain in all of its forms.
Acute pain
is a beneficial physiological response to a specific trauma or injury--a burn, cut, or broken bone, for instance. Acute pain is your body's inflammatory and neurological response to an impending threat to your physical safety.
Chronic pain
is different. It's often a sign of an underlying condition, like arthritis or fibromyalgia, and it can last for months, even years.
Untreated chronic pain can cause physical, mental and emotional consequences for the sufferer. It can also get worse over time, leading to more severe outcomes and more complex treatment issues.