By Grove Higgins, D.C.
Pain is one of those things that makes us human—it's an experience we all share, yet it's deeply misunderstood. If you've ever wondered why pain seems so unpredictable or if pain always means something is wrong, you're not alone. In this article, I want to help you understand by learning from a leading pain science, which helps us understand the quirky nature of pain and share some fascinating insights into what pain really is and, perhaps most importantly, what it's not!
Pain Isn't Always What You Think It Is
Let's start by clearing up a common misconception: pain DOES NOT always mean you are injured. Sounds strange, right? But it's true. Pain is imprecise—it's a warning system, but it doesn't always tell us exactly what’s happening or where. Think about a paper cut. Sometimes, a tiny, harmless cut can hurt like you've been stabbed, and the world comes to a screeching halt! A much larger cut that causes you to bleed might go unnoticed until someone says, “Hey, you're bleeding,” and you see the blood. That's because pain is a signal, 100% of the time, generated by your brain, influenced by many factors, not just tissue damage.
Pain Happens 100% of the time in the Brain.
Dr. Lorimer Moseley, gives other compelling examples of this in his TEDx talk. People with phantom limb syndrome—where pain is felt in a limb that no longer exists—experience very real pain without any physical cause at all. It’s proof that the brain can create pain even when there is no injury, or sometimes exaggerate pain when the injury is minor. Pain can also be referred, meaning that it’s felt in an area that isn’t actually injured, like pain from a trigger point that travels down an arm or across the back. The brain is incredibly complex, and it’s not always accurate in pinpointing the source of a problem.
In his talk, Moseley also shares a personal story about being bitten by an eastern brown snake while walking in the bush. At the time, his brain evaluated the experience as non-threatening, as if it was just a scratch from a twig, and he didn't feel any pain initially. Six months later, while walking in a similar environment, a harmless twig touched his leg, and he experienced intense pain because his brain remembered the previous snake bite. This shows how pain can be influenced by context and past experiences, emphasizing that it’s not always proportional to the physical threat.
John Sarno, MD, also offers an interesting perspective on pain through his work on Tension Myoneural Syndrome (TMS). Dr. Sarno suggests that many forms of chronic pain, particularly back pain, are rooted in repressed emotions and stress rather than structural issues. He emphasizes that understanding the psychological components of pain can often be key to overcoming it. By acknowledging the role of stress and emotions, we can start to dismantle the fear surrounding pain and see it as a reflection of our mental and emotional state, not just physical injury.
Pain Is a Signal—Listen, Learn, and Respond
Understanding that pain is a signal, not necessarily an indicator of harm, can change how we approach it. Pain is your brain's way of saying, "Hey, I’m not happy with something here!" The trick is not to fear it, but to respect it. Respecting pain means paying attention to what makes it better or worse. By doing that, you might be able to resolve it yourself. Pain is like an alarm system that can be overly sensitive sometimes, but if we pay attention, we can usually figure out why it went off in the first place.
For instance, if bending a certain way causes back pain, respecting that pain means observing what makes it worse and trying different things to relieve it. Sometimes, you can fix it simply by altering your habits or making small changes. If not, what you learn about your pain is valuable information—a "data set" that can help me or your healthcare provider, like Dr. Wood, Pat, or Mary, zero in on the root cause and help you solve it.
Stress, Metabolic Health, and Pain: A Common Story
Another important aspect of pain is how stress and poor metabolic health can make it worse. Pain, particularly in the lower back, is something almost everyone experiences at some point. Chronic stress and a lack of good metabolic health (meaning how efficiently your body uses energy) predispose us to pain by keeping the body's alarm system on high alert. It’s as though stress makes your brain more likely to hit the panic button—resulting in more frequent or more intense pain. That’s why managing stress, getting enough sleep, and paying attention to your overall health can make a big difference in how often and how intensely you feel pain.
Don't Fear Pain—Use It as a Guide
The key takeaway here is this: pain is a guide, not a ruler. It’s meant to direct your attention to something, but it’s not always a precise or even reasonable alarm. Fear often amplifies pain, making it feel worse. If you shift your mindset to think of pain as a signal—something you can learn from—it starts to feel less overwhelming. This is a journey you don’t have to take alone. Whether you’re working through it yourself or with the help of practitioners like me, the goal is always to understand, address, and ultimately calm that alarm system.
Your body is smart, and your brain is doing its best to protect you. So, let’s remove the fear, respect what your body is telling you, and use that information to take control of your health. You might be surprised at how much power you have to influence your own experience of pain.
Pain Exploration Checklist: How to Collect Useful Data and Know When to Call for Help
To better understand and manage your pain, it can help to track your experiences and know when it’s time to seek professional help. Use this checklist as a guide:
1. Track Your Pain
Location: Where do you feel the pain? Is it always in the same spot, or does it move?
Intensity: How intense is the pain on a scale of 1-10? Does the intensity change throughout the day?
Duration: How long does the pain last? Does it come and go, or is it constant?
Type of Pain: Is it sharp, dull, burning, throbbing, or something else?
Triggers: What activities or movements seem to trigger the pain?
Relievers: What makes the pain feel better? This could be a position, activity, rest, or medication.
Emotional State: How are you feeling emotionally when the pain is worse? Are there any patterns involving stress, anxiety, or fatigue?
Sleep & Nutrition: Are you getting enough sleep? How does your diet affect the pain?
2. Look for Patterns
Daily Routine: Does the pain occur at a particular time of day or during specific activities?
Stress Correlation: Notice if there are times when stress or emotional issues seem to coincide with increased pain.
Environment: Are environmental factors (e.g., cold, humidity) that worsen or improve the pain?
3. Know When to Call for Help
Emergency Situations (Call 911):
If the pain is sudden and severe, particularly in the chest, jaw, or left arm.
If you have trouble breathing or feel faint, dizzy, or weak.
If the pain is associated with trauma (e.g., a fall or accident).
If you notice a sudden loss of sensation, weakness, or difficulty moving.
Make an Appointment with Your Healthcare Provider:
If the pain has been persisting for more than a week without improvement.
If the pain interferes with daily activities or sleep.
If other symptoms like fever, unexplained weight loss, or swelling accompany the pain.
If you are feeling anxious or overwhelmed about the pain and need guidance.
This checklist can help you better understand your pain and provide valuable information to your healthcare provider so that together, we can find the best approach to resolving it. Remember, pain is a signal—let’s learn from it, not fear it.
Commentaires