Pain is a general term that describes uncomfortable sensations in the body. It arises when the nervous system is activated, often in response to actual or potential tissue damage.

Pain can range from annoying to debilitating. It may feel like a sharp stab or dull ache. Pain may also be described as throbbing, pinching, stinging, burning, or sore.

Pain may be consistent, start and stop frequently, or occur only under certain conditions. It may be acute, developing suddenly and lasting a short time. It may be chronic, with sensations that persist or return over several months or years.

Pain may be localized, affecting a specific part of your body. Or it may be generalized — for example, when you experience overall body aches from the flu.

People respond to pain differently. Some people have a high tolerance for pain, while others have a low tolerance. Pain is highly subjective.

Pain lets us know when something is wrong and gives us hints about the cause. Some pain is easy to diagnose and can be managed at home. Other types of pain are signs of serious health conditions requiring medical attention.

In some cases, pain is clearly caused by a specific injury or medical condition. In other cases, the cause of the pain may be less obvious or unknown.

Some common causes of pain include:

Many illnesses or disorders, such as the flu, arthritis, endometriosis, and fibromyalgia, can cause pain. Depending on the underlying cause, you may also develop other symptoms. These may include:

  • fatigue
  • swelling
  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • mood changes

There are several different types of pain. It’s possible to experience more than one type at the same time. If you’re in pain, identifying the type of pain may help your healthcare professional narrow down the potential causes and develop a treatment plan.

Acute pain

Acute pain develops over a short period of time, usually suddenly. It’s often in response to a clear cause such as injury, illness, or medical procedure.

Examples include:

Acute pain is often sharp rather than dull. It typically goes away within a few days, weeks, or months — after the cause has been treated or resolved.

Almost everyone experiences acute pain at some point.

Chronic pain

Chronic pain lasts, or recurs, for months or years. It can be linked to conditions such as arthritis, fibromyalgia, chronic migraine, or cancer. Some people also experience chronic pain following an injury, even after the initial injury has healed.

In certain cases, the cause of chronic pain is difficult to pinpoint. It’s possible to experience chronic pain when there’s no other evidence of underlying injury or illness. This is known as functional pain.

In 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that 24.3% of U.S. adults had chronic pain, and 8.5% had high impact chronic pain, meaning it frequently limited their ability to work or carry out daily activities.

Nociceptive pain

Nociceptive pain is caused by tissue damage.

It may be:

  • somatic pain — affecting skin, muscles, ligaments, tendons, joints, or bones
  • visceral pain — affecting internal organs

It can result from injuries such as cuts, burns, bruises, or fractures. It may also result from certain health conditions that cause tissue inflammation and damage, such as arthritis, osteoporosis, or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Nociceptive pain may be acute or chronic, depending on the underlying cause. It may feel achy, throbbing, or sharp. This type of pain affects almost everyone at some point in their lifetime.

Neuropathic pain

Neuropathic pain occurs when nerves themselves are damaged or malfunctioning. Causes include:

Neuropathic pain may feel like a stabbing, shooting, burning, or prickling sensation. You may also find you’re hypersensitive to touch, movement, or temperature changes. While often chronic, acute episodes are also possible

Functional pain

Functional pain is pain that’s caused by no obvious injury or damage to your body. It tends to be chronic, although acute functional pain may also develop.

Examples of functional pain syndromes include:

Seek medical attention for your pain if it’s:

  • the result of an injury or accident that may have caused substantial damage to your body, including severe or uncontrollable bleeding, broken bones, or head injury
  • an acute and sharp internal pain, which may be a sign of a serious problem such as a ruptured appendix or bowel perforation
  • located in your chest, back, shoulders, neck, or jaw and accompanied by other potential signs or symptoms of a heart attack, such as pressure in your chest, shortness of breath, dizziness, weakness, cold sweats, nausea, or vomiting
  • interfering with your day-to-day life, including your ability to sleep, work, or take part in other activities that are important to you

If you seek medical attention for your pain, your healthcare professional will first do a physical examination and ask you some questions. Be prepared to describe the pain specifically, including when it started, when it is most intense, and whether it is mild, moderate, or severe.

Your doctor may also ask:

  • how the pain affects your life
  • if you have other symptoms
  • if there are triggers that make the pain worse
  • if you have any diagnosed health conditions
  • if you’ve had any recent injuries or illnesses
  • if you have recently changed your diet or exercise routine
  • if you’re taking medications or supplements

Depending on your symptoms and medical history, your healthcare team may order one or more of the following tests to check for potential causes of your pain:

If no signs of underlying damage that may be causing the pain are detected, you might have a functional pain syndrome. A doctor diagnoses these syndromes based on symptoms after ruling out other potential causes.

Treatment for pain depends on the underlying issue or injury — when it’s known. Acute pain usually improves once the cause has been treated or has healed. Chronic pain, especially when functional pain or without a clear cause, can be more challenging to manage.

If you have pain due to an injury, it might heal naturally with time, or you might need medication, surgery, or other medical attention. If your pain is caused by an infection, it might resolve on its own or you might need medication or other treatments.

If you have a chronic health condition such as arthritis, cancer, or chronic migraine, your doctor might prescribe medication, surgery, or other therapies to help treat it.

Your healthcare professional might also recommend treatments to ease the pain itself. For example, they may recommend or prescribe:

  • Over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen, aspirin, or ibuprofen.
  • Prescription anti-inflammatory drugs, such as corticosteroids or certain types of COX-2 inhibitors.
  • Opioid medications, which may be prescribed for acute pain following an injury or surgery.
  • Non-opioid analgesic suzetrigine (Journavx), approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2025, to help manage acute pain.
  • Antidepressant or anti-convulsant medications, which may be prescribed for some types of neuropathic pain or functional pain syndromes.
  • Physical therapy, which may help relieve pain caused by injuries or certain health conditions such as arthritis or multiple sclerosis.
  • Occupational therapy, which may help you learn how to adapt your daily activities and environments to limit pain.

Your doctor may also recommend complementary therapies, such as:

  • Biofeedback, in which a therapist uses electronic devices to help you learn how to consciously control body functions such as breathing.
  • Acupuncture or acupressure, in which a practitioner stimulates certain pressure points on your body to help relieve chronic pain.
  • Massage, in which a therapist rubs, kneads, or presses on muscles or other soft tissues to help ease tension and pain.
  • Meditation, in which you focus your mind in ways intended to relieve stress and tension.
  • Tai chi or yoga, which combine gentle movements and deep breathing to stretch and stimulate your muscles and ease tension.
  • Progressive muscle relaxation, in which you consciously tighten and then relax different muscle groups to promote natural relaxation.
  • Guided imagery, in which you visualize calming images.

Your doctor may also recommend lifestyle changes or home remedies to help manage pain. For example:

  • applying a towel-wrapped cold pack or ice to reduce painful swelling and inflammation caused by injuries or chronic conditions such as arthritis
  • applying heating pads or taking warm baths to ease muscle stiffness, soreness, or cramps
  • limiting or avoiding certain activities or triggers that make your pain worse
  • taking steps to limit and ease stress
  • getting regular gentle exercise
  • getting enough sleep
  • losing weight

For minor injuries that don’t require medical attention, follow the general rule of RICE:

  • Rest the injured area.
  • Ice the injured area by applying a towel-wrapped cold pack or ice pack for 10 to 20 minutes at a time.
  • Compress the injured area by wrapping it in an elastic bandage tightly enough to provide support, but not so tightly that it causes numbness.
  • Elevate the injured area above your heart.

Pain is a signal that something may be wrong in the body. It may stem from injuries, diseases, and functional pain syndromes.

Typically, the best and most effective approach is to address the underlying cause if it can be identified. Sometimes, the body heals on its own, and other times, medication, surgery, or other therapies are needed. If the cause isn’t clear, your healthcare professional can work with you to manage symptoms.

Seek medical attention right away if you think your pain is due to a serious condition, or if it’s interfering with your daily life.