The Good News about Pain

Amy Taylor January 25, 2013

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We often try to minimise, and as much as possible get rid of pain. Whether its migraine, back pain, or swollen joints, suffering from pain is the least thing we want to experience. But pain isn’t something you always have to be afraid of, or angry about. In some cases, pain is actually a good thing!

How come?

Pain is useful in a number of ways. First off, pain signals us to tell something is wrong with our body physiologically. For instance, pinching of nerves in the back could be a sign that you have incurred structural damage. Pain could also be as symptom of infection, or a more serious condition. Pain also tells us when our bodies need urgent medical help. It may be possible that a person who has undergone a surgical back operation experienced pain because something may have changed or a new fracture has occurred.

Moreover, pain gives us warning against potential threats. When you put your fingers on a hot stove, or when you accidentally step on a sharp object, pain saves you and warns you to be ‘more careful’ next time. Admit it, when you don’t feel pain, you rarely give closer attention and care to your body.

Indeed, pain is a good thing in a sense that it alerts us of all the unusual changes or occurrences that happen in our bodies. However, chronic, persistent pain that have no causes, such as back pain, could be very hard to tolerate.

Understanding the Nature of Pain

It could be all in your mind

If the painkiller doesn’t work, relax and let your mind take control. It may really sound annoying (it could even aggravate your condition) to be told that pain is just in your head. How could they?! You know it’s real and something’s wrong. You can feel it. But scientists reveal that indeed, pain is generated in our brain, particularly in the area called pain matrix. This region is responsible for making you feel the type and intensity of pain. Whether it’s like an electrical wave passing through your veins, a huge hammer pounding your head, or that unexplainable emotional pang – they are all generated in your brain. 

Studies also found that the brain doesn’t distinguish whether the pain is coming from an injury or an emotion. The cingulate cortex found in the pain matrix activates whether you are experiencing heartburn or heartbreak!

What can we draw from these findings? Basically, they tell us that our minds can manipulate how pain is going to affect us. We are capable of managing our pain or letting it linger.

Mind over Matter

Some people tend to ‘catastrophise’ their pain. This often results to experiencing much greater pain than what they are supposed to feel. While there are instances that catastrophising is triggered by traumatic experiences, in most cases, pain gets more painful because we perceive them to be. Some people who catastrophise their pain often end up developing chronic pain problems that make even the mildest sensations extremely agonising. That is, just a slight touch on the affected area could hurt like hell.

The good news is – we simply have to command our brain to resist the pain. The more you perceive pain to be very much debilitating, the more it gets painful. According to experts, pain circuits become more powerful through constant use, just like muscles get stronger through exercise. This is perhaps the reason why many people who lost a limb tend to feel their missing body part still aches.

It can be hard to control the mind to manage pain, but with the following self-help tips, you can get through it:

Don’t mind it. Pain is something you have to eliminate, and not preserve. In one study, researchers suggest that a sympathetic partner might actually worsen the condition of the sufferer. According to them, responding to every moan or flinch of the sufferer can make the pain worse while asking about the pain may interfere with their efforts to distract themselves. Instead of putting so much attention to what the sufferer is going through, help them divert their attention. Encourage them to do light activities that will make them forget about their pain. Exercising might be a better idea than lying on bed and lingering the agonising sensation.

But of course, there are instances when pain is very intense that forcing yourself to move or do strenuous activities could worsen the situation. You are the best person to assess the pain you are feeling. If you think something is wrong and the pain tends to get stronger, consider seeking medical help. Further diagnosis is necessary to determine the underlying cause or causes of severe, recurring pain.

Romance is the sweetest painkiller. Tired of taking bitter medications to soothe your headache? Well then, you might want to make love with your spouse tonight. According to experts, orgasm amplifies our pain threshold even though its opiate-like effects may not last for too long. Nevertheless, through sex, the body releases oxytocin, also called the love hormone, which is known for its anti-pain properties. Studies found that people who engage in regular sex experience less pain.

Treat the cause the soonest. Medications don’t target the cause of your pain. Drugs work by simply distracting your mind. Experts say chronic pain might be easier to prevent than to reverse. So make an effort to treat the cause instead of experiencing it. As mentioned, our brain gets easily trained to process pain to the extent that even the mildest sensation becomes unbearably painful. So before your condition leads to chronic pain, do something about it. Set an appointment with your therapist and learn about potential treatments. Among the most popular therapies for pain are acupuncture, massage and meditation.

Sweat it out.  Exercising can be an effective painkiller. One study observed that healthy college students who exercised regularly experienced a slight increase in pain and fatigue if they don’t exercise for at least a week. When you exercise, your brain produces endorphin – the body’s natural painkiller. It doesn’t just reduce pain intensity but also helps improve your mood.

There’s a good thing about pain. But letting yourself suffer from recurring ache could do you more harm than good. Treatments are available, from over-the-counter drugs to alternative approaches such as exercising, acupuncture, massage, even sex. But most importantly, learning how to control your mind is the best way to effectively manage pain.

 

Dear Readers,

How do you deal with pain? Can you recommend some other helpful natural techniques to deal with it?

Share your comments below.