[Chronic pain in everyday medical routine].

Acute or chronic pain are the most frequent reasons to seek medical help. Primarily acute pain is a symptom and warning sign. However, insufficient treatment of acute pain may induce a change to a chronic long lasting pain illness. Therefore a consequent immediate treatment is essential. Chronic pain is a bio-psycho-social illness. In this situation pharmacotherapy or any other monotherapy alone is no longer effective. Interdisciplinary treatment is needed. Effective treatment of acute pain to prevent from long lasting pain episodes is an essential and the only way to prevent from enormous financial consequences of chronic pain.