Today, I wish to focus on the topic of pain. Generally pain is not the main focus of my discussions with patients, but at the beginning it must be. Why? So I can better understand the (problem) at hand. But what is PAIN really? Pain is a complex issue, and one that is extremely unique to the individual experiencing pain. The International Association for the Study of Pain defines pain as “an unpleasant sensory or emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage, or described in terms of such damage.” This means even a perceived threat or stimulus can generate pain.
What does that really mean? Even a person’s thoughts could be a trigger to make a person feel pain. Just think about how your body responds to a different stimulus or emotion (FEAR). Think how you feel watching a horror movie or on a haunted hay ride. Doesn’t that heart rate increase a bit? Maybe you experience some chills or hair stand up on your arm or neck. Fear generates a different chemical reaction in the body, but nonetheless results in a chemical response, just like pain (just different chemicals- and a different response/experience).
In trying to understand pain, one must realize that pain is a perception or construct of the brain. There is no one pain button that lives in your brain and controls this pain response. You may have heard that pain is in your head, and that is an accurate statement (to a degree). BUT before you think I am saying it is all in your head (because it isn’t- really), let me try to explain.
When the body senses something is wrong (i.e. you touch something hot), a message is detected from receptors in your hand. It then travels through the arm to your spinal cord. Then the message is relayed to your brain. The brain senses something not quite right and causes you to pull your hand away FAST. This is done reflexively and without conscious thought (hopefully before serious tissue damage occurs). This is because in an attempt to avoid harm to our body, we have a system of fast reactions just in case a situation like this happens. This allows us to protect our bodies while the rest of our brain processes the event.
As you are in the process of pulling your hand away, the brain is comparing this message (I think I touched something hot) to years worth of data based on past experiences and ingrained behavior/societal norms. IT decides you did indeed touch something hot. And based on past experiences and what you have always been told/believed about touching hot things, you experience sensation of pain. But thankfully, your reflexes pulled your hand away quickly so that you minimized ACTUAL tissue damage.
So even though you did little ACTUAL damage to the skin, pain is still sensed. AND is has the potential to last because of your past experiences or beliefs. YES, even believing in the pain response can make it last longer than it otherwise should. (More on this to come)
Now what I just wrote is much more complicated, and is why I will further expand on this pain concept in another posting. This concept applies to a wide range of “painful” stimuli (and body parts) whether the pain is new or old. If you want more information sooner, check out these links on YouTube explaining pain.
Explain Pain in 5 min https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_3phB93rvI
Why Things Hurt https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwd-wLdIHjs
Want to know if your PAIN can be help? Not sure if your problem can be help?