Newsroom Hospital for Special Surgery

When to Rest — and When to Move — With Acute Pain

Tue, 05 May 2026 10:19:00 -0400

Everyday Health reported on when to rest and when to move with acute pain featuring insight from Nicole Matar, MD, an interventional pain and spine specialist at HSS.

With acute pain, “Rest reduces inflammation and prevents further injury,” said Dr. Matar. “In the first 24 to 72 hours, relative rest allows the inflammatory phase of healing to occur appropriately.”

It’s important to talk with your doctor and devise a plan for rest that’s best for you. How you should take it easy will depend on the pain and what’s causing it, but as a general rule, some variation of RICE — rest, ice, compression, elevation — is often the way to go, explained Dr. Matar. “That being said, rest is more aligned with taking it easy and not true bed rest.”

Bottom line: It’s about finding the right balance. You don’t want to take it too easy when dealing with acute pain, but you shouldn’t push yourself too far beyond your comfort zone right now either. This can lead to prolonged inflammation or reinjury. As a general rule, if you’re doing something and it hurts, stop, said Matar. “Mild discomfort during activity is acceptable, but movement should not be sharply painful.”

Read the full article at everydayhealth.com.

6 Signs Acute Pain Is Becoming Chronic — and How to Stop It

Tue, 05 May 2026 10:18:00 -0400

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.