What Is Pain?
Pain comes into the picture as a symptom of a problem – an injury or resulting from a disorder. Many other symptoms, both physical and emotional, can accompany pain. Physical symptoms can include headache, dizziness, nausea or vomiting, weakness, diarrhea or constipation, sweating, or drowsiness. The emotional effects of pain can be depression, crying, anger, irritability, mood swings, or suicidal ideas. Many people, when they experience pain, change their lifestyle to work around it. They might stop pursuing recreation, romantic relationships, and friendships.

Often, analgesics will relieve pain. Ice can also be used on the exact site of the pain to reduce discomfort and any inflammation that might have developed. It is also important to provide emotional support for depression and anxiety that a person in pain might have.
Pain is divided into two basic types: acute pain and chronic pain. It is important to distinguish between these, especially when trying to diagnose what is causing the pain in the first place.
Acute Pain
Acute pain is defined as pain that is related directly to damage of the tissue or pain that has lasted for less than three months. It is like the human body’s fire alarm – it alerts you to damage or dangerous circumstances. Acute pain occurs when the sense receptors, called nociceptors, in the skin or internal organs are triggered. Causes of acute pain can typically be diagnosed and treated.
Acute pain can present in many forms, therefore it is important to figure out what kind of pain is occurring. Also important is dealing with acute pain in the correct way. Pain medications can help, but the cause needs to be identified, particularly if the pain is internal, where you cannot see what is happening.
Chronic Pain
Chronic pain is defined as pain that has lasted for more than three months. It is very different from acute pain, as it is often not as simple to find its cause. It is estimated that 50% of people over 50 and 80% of people over 65 live with chronic pain.
There are many conditions and diseases that can cause chronic pain. These include neck, shoulder, and back problems, migraines, headaches, phantom limb pain after amputations, diabetic neuropathy, neuropathic pain, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, myofascial pain syndrome, chronic regional pain syndrome, post-thoracotomy pain, and angina pectoris. Herpes zoster – more commonly known as shingles – and the post-herpetic neuralgia that follows, almost all types of cancer, post-mastectomy pain, sickle cell anemia, Temporomandibular Joint Disorder, and chronic visceral pain syndromes can also cause chronic pain.
The treatments for chronic pain can depend on its cause, as well as the needs of individual patients. Total relief of pain is achievable in every situation. No matter what is causing the pain, it is highly important for physicians and patients to work together in finding a treatment plan that will improve the patient’s quality of life. Alternative treatments to pain medication that have been proven to improve pain include acupuncture, brain stimulation, and local electric stimulation. It is important to learn all that is possible about the condition that is causing your pain, so that when you consider any treatment, you will understand how that treatment will affect the pain.
One of the worst things about having chronic pain is that it can be extremely difficult to find relief from it in some situations. There are many things that chronic pain sufferers must learn to cope with when living with chronic pain. Life cannot just stop because you hurt. It is possible to allow chronic pain to dictate the kind of life that you live, but it doesn’t have to. Pain medication and other treatments can help diminish chronic pain enough that you can live your life.
Many of those dealing with chronic pain turn to drugs or take much more of their prescription pain medication as a source of relief. This is a mistake, as it can result in addiction, causing even further pain. It is best to take care of yourself when dealing with chronic pain, using treatments that help it, and avoid getting into a situation that can cause even more damage. If your pain feels unmanageable with the treatments you are using, talk to your doctor before attempting to medicate yourself in any other way.