Summary: Understanding the neurobiological mechanisms underlying acute and chronic pain syndromes is a huge progress in modern pain medicine. Recognition of the basic differences between acute and chronic pain processes, learning about the factors determining the progression from acute to chronic pain increases the awareness of health care professionals about the need for early and effective acute pain treatment regardless of its etiology, and also allows to identify patients particularly susceptible to chronic pain development. A modern and multimodal approach to acute pain treatment may in many cases prevent the pain chronification and thus reduce the percentage of chronic pain sufferers. In turn, understanding the mechanisms underlying chronic pain allows for the implementation of more effective mechanism-based therapies, including rational pharmacotherapy and non-pharmacological methods, which may improve the quality and effectiveness of pain management.