Pain…
We’ve had it. We hate it. We want it gone. Whether it be the lower back, in the knee or while giving birth, it can be difficult to escape. But have you ever stopped to consider why pain is there in the first place?
While there are many theories and still a lot we don’t know, it is generally accepted that pain is your body's safety mechanism. It is a way of letting you know if you continue doing the thing that causes pain, you may cause harm to yourself.
What actually happens when we feel pain?
It is easiest to look at an example, say, getting your finger caught in a door. When the door shuts on your finger, little sensors under your skin are triggered. These are connected to nerves which run up your arm and to your spine. The message from your finger moves up your body, where more nerves take the message to your brain through electrical signals. At this point, parts of your brain are alerted and decide whether your finger getting caught in the door is something you should know and worry about.
So while you feel pain at your finger, the pain that we feel is controlled by our brain!
The pain you feel is extremely dependent on a number of factors, some include:
Context
The situation we find ourselves in can determine how badly we feel pain. In times of urgency where ‘adrenaline’ kicks in, our brain can restrict the feeling of pain. E.g. If you were running from a fire and caught your finger, you are unlikely to think about or feel your sore finger.
Past experiences
Our brain learns from pain. Pain in similar locations or from similar injuries can lead to similar feelings, even if the injury is different or not as bad as in the past. With the finger in the door example, if you had broken your finger in the past from a door, then when you do it again it can trigger you to feel more pain even if you didn't break it the second time.
Stress, depression, anxiety and mood
How we are feeling both emotionally and physically alters our sense of pain. Low mood or ongoing stress often will increase the pain that we feel. This is why we are more likely to have flare ups of an injury when we are under more stressful times at work.
Thoughts and perceptions
Our beliefs about an injury can actually influence what we feel too. If we think an injury is worse than it is, we often will feel more pain. Think that your finger will never get better? This thought alone can negatively impact your brain's ability to process pain and make it hurt more.
Length of time
Ongoing pain makes our brains sensitive to pain. This can cause you to feel pain even when an injury has healed. Most tissue healing takes 6-12 weeks, so if your pain lasts beyond this period it may be your brain trying to incorrectly protect you from otherwise normal activities!
These are just some of the factors which influence the pain we feel. This is why it is crucial to find out more about why your pain is occurring. At Back in Motion Mentone we perform thorough assessments to ensure that both the physio AND you understand why you have pain.
So what can we learn from all this?
- Pain can be a good warning sign, but it doesn’t always reliably tell us what is going.
- Pain does not always equal more damage or worsening of an injury.
- Pain is just one component of your injury, it should be respected but it is more helpful to find out why you are having pain.
Our physiotherapists at Back In Motion Mentone believe it is just as important for clients to understand why they have pain, as it is for them to manage it. Our Results4Life based model ensures we not only reduce pain when an injury happens, but prevent it from occurring again, whatever the cause.
To find out more about why you are having pain and what you can do, book your FREE assessment now by calling 9583 1149 or visit http://www.backinmotion.com.au/mentone/make-a-booking to book online
Author: Zebulun Ariaratnum (Physiotherapist, Back In Motion Mentone)