Pain is a general term that describes uncomfortable
sensations in the body and can be described as sharp stabbing, dull ache,
throbbing, stinging, sore, and pinching.
It can range from uncomfortable to debilitating and can be consistent or on
and off. Pain is highly subjective. People respond
to pain differently. Some people have a high tolerance for pain, while others
have a low tolerance.
Pain starts from activation of the nervous system. There are
9 steps of the pain circle:
Step 1: Local inflammation. There are injury, surgery,
infection causing local inflammation.
Step2: Peripheral sensitization. Local inflammation
irritates the nerves lowering the pain threshold causing peripheral
sensitization.
Step3: Central sensitization. Nerve signals are transmitted
to the brain causing central sensitization.
Step4: Pain
sensation. The brain tells you that there is pain in the body somewhere.
Step5: Pain cognitive processes. The brain where is sensing
the pain connects other part of the brain where controls emotion causing
emotional and behaviour changes.
Step6: Depression and anxiety. The brain where controls
emotions is affected by the pain signals and alters its function causing
depression and anxiety
Step7: Cortical reorganization. The brain reallocates its
task to different parts of the body to reduce pain sensation and help replace
the lost function.
Step8: Avoidance and disability. The body will respond the
brain demands to redistribute the work causing avoidance and disabililty.
Step9: Muscle spasm deconditioning. Injured and related
muscles become spasmed to protect the body from moving and feeling the pain
causing muscle waste.
Acupuncture is a therapy in which thin needles are inserted into the body to relieve the pain.
