Which of the following statements about chronic pain is true?

• A. Chronic pain typically resolves quickly with standard medical treatment.
• B. Chronic pain often persists beyond the expected period of healing and can occur without an identifiable physical cause.
• C. Chronic pain is usually less disruptive to daily functioning than acute pain.
• D. Chronic pain is always associated with visible tissue damage.

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the definition of chronic pain. Chronic pain is pain that persists for a long time, often beyond the usual course of an acute illness or injury, typically lasting longer than 3 to 6 months.
2. Step 2: Recognize that chronic pain can continue even after the initial injury or cause has healed, meaning it may persist without an identifiable physical cause or ongoing tissue damage.
3. Step 3: Compare chronic pain to acute pain. Acute pain is usually short-term and directly related to tissue damage or injury, whereas chronic pain is often more complex and can be more disruptive to daily functioning.
4. Step 4: Evaluate the statements given: chronic pain does not typically resolve quickly with standard medical treatment, it can persist without visible tissue damage, and it is often more disruptive than acute pain.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the true statement is that chronic pain often persists beyond the expected period of healing and can occur without an identifiable physical cause.