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Types of Pain

Types of Pain

Acute pain is of short duration, usually the result of an injury, surgery or illness. This type of pain includes acute injuries, post-operative pain and post-trauma pain.

Chronic pain is an ongoing condition, such as back and neck pain, headaches, complex regional pain syndrome Type 1 (reflex sympathetic dystrophy), neuropathic pain (nerve injury pain), musculoskeletal pain, and pain related to illness. Your physician may refer you to the Pain Management Center because your chronic pain condition has not responded to conventional therapies.

Cancer pain is pain that results from cancer or cancer treatment.

Condition Spotlight

Stanford Pain Chief Leads National Pain Strategy Effort
Dr. Sean Mackey on Pain Management and Stanford's Approach to Treating Pain
Dr. Sean Mackey on Pain Management and Stanford's Approach to Treating Pain Play Video | 3:15
Taking Your Life Back from Pain's Control – with Mind, Body and New Medical Vision
Taking Your Life Back from Pain's Control – with Mind, Body and New Medical Vision Read Story

Clinical Trials

Clinical trials are research studies that evaluate a new medical approach, device, drug, or other treatment. As a Stanford Health Care patient, you may have access to the latest, advanced clinical trials.

Open trials refer to studies currently accepting participants. Closed trials are not currently enrolling, but may open in the future.

Open Trials Closed Trials