Everyday Health reported on six signs acute pain is becoming chronic and how to stop it featuring insight from Nicole Matar, MD, interventional pain and spine physician at HSS. 

From backaches or arthritis to a twisted ankle or swollen joint after surgery, pain is something we all have to deal with at one time or another. Acute pain (aka short-term pain) is a signal that your body’s beginning to heal itself, and in most cases, it’s temporary. But for some people, acute pain can stick around and become more long-lasting pain. “The clinical definition of chronic pain is pain lasting longer than three months or beyond expected tissue healing,” said Dr. Matar. 

Pain that’s out of proportion to what might be expected for the injury is a sign of chronic pain, continued Dr. Matar. So is feeling more sensitive to touch that typically wouldn’t be painful, such as a light tap causing significant discomfort. When the nervous system becomes hypersensitive, even mild stimuli can feel intense.

If you have acute pain, prioritize your recovery, especially by focusing on getting adequate sleep every night and managing any stress, Dr. Matar shared.

Read the full article at everydayhealth.com.