What is pain?

Pain is a protective warning sign for us to protect our body from being harmed, but it doesn’t mean that when we have pain, we have tissue damage. It’s a brain thing.

Let me explain ...

Think of your brain as a control centre with a detailed map of your body. When you experience a local trauma, like a bump on your left arm, your brain immediately recognises it. It then sends out pain signals to protect you from further harm and to kickstart the healing process. This is what we call acute pain, and it’s a good thing.

But what if your left arm continues to hurt long after the injury has healed? Or worse, what if it starts hurting for no apparent reason, even years after the original trauma? This is when things get tricky. Your brain, in an attempt to protect you, can become overzealous, causing what we call chronic pain.

The chronicity of the pain sensation or a flare-up of pain happens because our brain is in a heightened state of alert to any situation that recalls the original trauma. Again, we no longer have tissue damage, but the brain reacts as if there were actual damage to the tissues.

So, what can set off these painful episodes? Well, it could be something as familiar as feeling anxious or stressed. Even experiencing sensations similar to those you felt during the original trauma can trigger a flare-up.

When patients present signs of chronic pain, we as practitioners need to educate the patient and help them to re-train their brain, reducing this extreme alert situation. That’s why, sometimes, when a patient books an appointment, the pain suddenly gets better (brain reaction: finally, this body is seeking help; now I can relax a bit!).

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If you're experiencing persistent pain, it's a sign that something needs to be addressed. You don't have to suffer in silence. We're here to help. If you're in pain, don't hesitate to book your appointment. You deserve to feel better.