Pain is the single most common complaint people have when going to the doctor. In one out of two visits, the principlal complaint is pain.
Pain can have many causes, thus there are many kinds of pain.
- Chronic pain is longer term pain that can be constant or intermittent.
- Acute pain occurs suddenly usually as a result of a specific event and may last hours or minutes.
- Local pain occurs in a small confined space and generalized pain occurs all over your body.
Most pain can be diagnosed by your physician but in certain cicumstances such as chronic pain, you may need a specialist who deals primarily in pain management. Find out more about UAB's Pain Management Services under Clinical Services & Clinics.