The treatment of pain. Pain may be acute or chronic. Acute pain is of a limited duration and is usually the result of an injury, surgery, or illness. As the body heals, acute pain normally diminishes. Chronic pain is more difficult to manage. This type of pain (which includes low back pain, arthritic pain, pain caused by shingles or headaches, and pain symptoms related to cancer and nerve problems) persists for long periods. Treatment options for pain management include medication (such as analgesics, anti-inflammatory drugs, antidepressants, and anti-seizure medications), electrical stimulation, physical therapy, relaxation therapy, and surgery. Recently, there has been more interest in studying nontraditional methods of managing chronic pain, such as hypnosis and acupuncture.