Acute pain is typically severe in nature and lasts a relatively short period of time.  This type of pain usually happens when body tissue has been injured. The pain generally disappears when the injury heals.  An example would be a sprained ankle.

Chronic, or persistent, pain ranges from mild to severe in nature and is present for long periods of time.  An example would be arthritis or cancer pain.

Sometimes, people with chronic pain experience breakthrough pain.  This type of pain “breaks through” or is felt for a short period of time.  It may occur several times throughout the day, even when the proper dose of medicine is given to manage chronic pain.  An example of this type of pain is pain experienced when a dressing for a wound is changed.