It is possible to have pain without tissue damage or disease and it's also possible to have tissue damage without pain. Even if there is tissue damage, this doesn't always seem to match with the amount of pain someone is feeling.
Long-term pain is very common in society today. It doesn't mean that your body is broken or damaged or will never work again. It is a sign of sensitivity around an area, your body is protecting the area from danger. Any tissue damage will have healed by 3 -6 months.
Some people also have chronic pain that's not tied to an injury or physical illness. Healthcare providers call this response psychogenic pain or psychosomatic pain. It's caused by psychological factors such as stress, anxiety and depression.
It's normal to feel some pain, swelling, and heat around a wound as it starts to heal. But if the pain doesn't go away, it might indicate a non-healing wound. Non-healing wounds can cause worsening pain over time.
Unrelieved pain has detrimental effects on wound healing. Tissue damage and inflammation sensitises nerve endings that transmit nerve signals.
Many people report pain in the absence of tissue damage or any likely pathophysiological cause; usually this happens for psychological reasons.
Not all pain means harm.
Acute pain is the body's normal response to tissue damage or injury and needs immediate medical treatment. It heals and generally lasts less than three months. Chronic pain is an abnormal response and doesn't improve with time.
The Numerical Rating Pain Scale is a simple pain scale that grades pain levels from 0 (No pain), 1,2, and 3 (Mild), 4,5, and 6 (Moderate), 7,8, and 9 (Severe) to 10 (Worst Pain Possible).
Pain is an alarm signal that occurs when the body is in danger. Think of it as protection from harm.
But unfortunately, just like pain can make you feel worse mentally, your mind can cause pain without a physical source, or make preexisting pain increase or linger. This phenomenon is called psychogenic pain, and it occurs when your pain is related to underlying psychological, emotional, or behavioral factors.
Your immune system sends out its first responders: inflammatory cells and cytokines (substances that stimulate more inflammatory cells). These cells begin an inflammatory response to trap bacteria and other offending agents or start healing injured tissue. The result can be pain, swelling, bruising or redness.
Harm produces damage–sometimes permanent damage–and it is often intentional on the part of the injurer. Similar to rage, harming comes from more primitive structures in the brain, whereas hurting involves more cognition. The impulse to harm is a self-protective reaction to a perceived serious threat.
When our pain receptors are working effectively, pain is a useful way for our bodies to tell our brains when a stimulus is a threat to our overall well-being. However, sometimes pain stops playing a protective role.
Pain has two components: a sensory component (physical) and an emotional or affective component (psychological). The former informs your body where the pain is coming from, while the latter causes psychological distress after an experience of pain.
"People who feel that their pain is a seven or higher - anything worse than a bad toothache - should see a doctor right away." According to Hockberger, you should also see a doctor if you have moderate pain that doesn't go away within a few days, or if any treatment that previously relieved pain suddenly stops working.
Pain: your body's way of grabbing your attention
Pain is usually useful – it grabs our attention, telling us something is wrong so maybe we should do something about it. Pain tells you to pull your hand back from the stove burner, rest after breaking your ankle, or not eat those poisonous berries ever again.
Impact on your mobility
If the pain makes it hard for you to go about your day, consider seeking medical care promptly. Otherwise, the pain could make it harder to do your work, maintain your household, and enjoy your favorite activities. Once the pain limits your quality of life, seek treatment.
Scientists have discovered that in chronic pain patients, the region of their brain with regulates emotions is constantly active, even when other regions are more active. This can wear out this area of the brain and mean that it is not functioning optimally, because it's not getting the rest it needs.
Nociceptive pain is a type of pain caused by damage to body tissue. People often describe it as being a sharp, achy, or throbbing pain. It's often caused by an external injury. For example, if you hit your elbow, stub your toe, twist your ankle, or fall and scrape up your knee, you may feel nociceptive pain.
Pain can cause the blood vessels to constrict, which slows healing. If your wound is causing discomfort, tell your doctor. The doctor may suggest that you take over-the-counter drugs such as paracetamol or may prescribe stronger pain-killing medication.
The link between pleasure and pain is deeply rooted in our biology. For a start, all pain causes the central nervous system to release endorphins – proteins which act to block pain and work in a similar way to opiates such as morphine to induce feelings of euphoria.
Physical activity, especially aerobic exercise, can also raise pain tolerance and decrease pain perception. One study found that a moderate to vigorous cycling program significantly increased pain tolerance. Mental imagery refers to creating vivid images in your mind, and it can be useful for some in managing pain.