Which description best defines chronic pain according to the material?

• A. Pain lasting less than a month after an acute illness
• B. Pain not associated with cancer or other problems lasting more than 3-6 months
• C. Pain that occurs only during physical activity
• D. Pain that responds promptly to analgesics

Answer: (B)

Chronic pain is defined by duration and its lack of connection to an active disease process. In the material, it’s described as pain that lasts beyond the normal healing period, specifically more than about 3 to 6 months, and not tied to active cancer or other ongoing problems. This combination—long duration and absence of an active acute illness that would explain the pain—distinguishes chronic pain from acute pain.

Think of why the other descriptions don’t fit: pain lasting less than a month after an acute illness is clearly acute; pain that occurs only during physical activity points to exerciserelated or transient pain rather than a persistent, non-specific pain syndrome; pain that responds promptly to analgesics is more characteristic of acute or well-controlled pain, whereas chronic pain often persists despite treatment and may require a broader management approach.