Why Do We Feel Pain?

“The pain is killing me” – sounds familiar? We take pain as a part of our daily lives. We’ve all experienced pain and sought medical help if it becomes severe. From accidentally hitting something or rubbing our eyes with a dirty hand – pain is an inevitable feeling that we simply cannot escape.

But have you ever wondered why we feel pain? What’s the science behind it? Why do different types of pain feel different?

Let’s understand these and more.

Why do we feel pain?

When our nervous system thinks a part of our body is injured or in danger of getting injured, it sends our body signals, which translates into pain. It is a normal sensory signal that something might be wrong. The interesting part is we become aware of pain only when our brain processes it.

But how does the brain receive the signal? All parts of our body have pain receptors. When a portion of the body gets injured, pain receptors from that area release chemicals that send messages to our brain. These chemicals are known as neurotransmitters.

These messages travel through the nerves to the spinal cord and eventually reach the brain to inform that something is wrong. After receiving such messages, the brain processes them, evaluates them and decides what to do.

The brain then sends messages back to the body part through neurotransmitters telling it how to react. It might also release natural painkillers known as endorphins to ease the pain or tell your immune system to start healing the injury.

This entire process happens within a fraction of a second, thus making us feel pain.

The perception of pain

Different people feel pain differently. While someone may break a bone and not even realise it, others may feel significant pain from even a small cut.

This happens because nerve fibres or neurotransmitters mediate pain in our body by sending pain signals to the brain. As everybody is different, the neurotransmitters are different too and they react differently to stimuli. That’s why different people have different kinds of perceptions of pain and they react differently too.

Types of pain

Yes, pain can be of different types. The kind of pain that we feel when we have a muscle cramp is different from the kind we feel when we get a burn, isn’t it? So here are the most common types of pain:

Acute pain

This kind of pain is felt for a relatively short duration and can last from a few minutes up to six months. Acute pain is usually felt due to temporary illness or a soft tissue injury. Hence, it subsides when the injury heals. However, when injuries don’t heal properly, they can transform into chronic pain.

Chronic pain

Chronic pain is felt for longer durations and can be intermittent or constant. A typical example of chronic pain is a migraine. Chronic pain is often felt due to health conditions such as a spine condition, arthritis or others.

Nociceptive pain

This kind of pain is caused due to damage to the body tissue. This can often be throbbing and sharp pain and is usually a result of an external injury such as a twist in your ankle, fall or scraping the knee. Usually, joints, muscles, tendons, skin and bones are affected by it.

Neuropathic pain

This kind of pain is caused due to damage to the nerves or different parts of the nervous system. It can feel like pins and needles or stabbing or burning pain. Someone can also feel hot or cold due to it. This can be in the form of chronic pain and can last for a longer time. Neuropathic pain can affect someone’s mobility.

Radicular pain

A specific type of pain, this is usually caused due to the compression or inflammation of the spine. The pain radiates from the back and hip into the legs through the spine. It usually feels like numbness, tingling or muscle weakness. A common example of radicular pain is sciatica which is caused due to the compression or inflammation of the sciatic nerve. Radicular pain can be steady and can interfere with walking, sitting or other activities.

Can acute pain turn into chronic pain?

Pain is an alarm system that keeps our bodies safe. However, sometimes, our nerves can release pain signals even when the injury has healed. Sometimes, pain that continues for a long time can affect our nervous system. This can make us sensitive to pain making us feel the stimuli more. This way, an acute pain can turn into chronic pain.

When Should You See a Doctor?

So, should you see a doctor every time you feel pain? Not necessarily. As pain is our body’s normal response to illness or injury, all pain doesn’t need immediate medical attention.

But how do you understand when to see a doctor? Well, if the pain lasts for a longer time than you expected, then probably you need to see a doctor. If the pain is caused by a serious injury, then don’t delay a visit to your doctor.

Moreover, if you experience other symptoms, apart from pain such as swelling, bleeding, or a bone or joint malformation, then a medical intervention is essential.

Finally, if you feel unsure of what’s causing your pain, then you should meet a doctor too.

Seek Medical Attention When In Doubt

To conclude, it is important to mention that it is important to contact a doctor whenever you’re in doubt. When it comes to treatment, there’s no one-size-fits-all formula for pain treatment. Every pain is treated differently. Your medical team will understand the condition and decide on the course of treatment.

You might be prescribed prescription medications and over-the-counter medicines. In more serious conditions, your doctor may suggest occupational or physical therapies. Neuromodulation therapies can be used for nerve-related pain.

Ensure not to take any medicine on your own without contacting a doctor. Trust your medical team to guide you through the treatment process.

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