Hello, I’m Linda, the lead clinician at The Pain Collective and an occupational therapist by training. Today, I’ll walk you through some essential aspects of chronic pain: what causes it, its types, and common symptoms. But first, let’s look at what pain actually is and how it works within our bodies.
What Is Pain and Why Do We Feel It?
Pain serves an important purpose—it’s our body’s natural alarm system designed to protect us from harm. Think of it like a home or car alarm. Alarms typically have a sensor at entry points, wiring that leads to a control box, and a siren that alerts us to possible danger. Similarly, pain acts as the “siren” in our bodies, alerting us when something potentially harmful is happening.
However, our body’s pain system is incredibly sensitive. In the way that a house alarm might go off when someone tries to open a door or window, our pain system can activate even before any real damage occurs. Imagine a house alarm triggered not just by someone trying to enter but by someone simply glancing through the window. That’s how sensitive our body’s alarm system can be.
In the case of chronic pain, the alarm becomes overly sensitive—it can go off from minor triggers, like a gentle breeze or someone walking by, long after the actual threat or injury has passed. When this happens, pain loses its original purpose and starts to cause ongoing distress.
Acute Pain vs. Chronic Pain
To understand chronic pain better, let’s compare it to acute pain.
Acute Pain
Acute pain is short-term and typically linked to a specific injury or cause. For instance, if you sprain your ankle, you’ll feel pain because of the injury. This pain responds well to treatments like ice packs or rest and gradually subsides as the injured tissues heal.
Chronic Pain
Chronic pain, on the other hand, is pain that lingers long after it has stopped being useful. Usually, it’s defined as pain lasting more than three months. By this point, the body’s tissues have likely healed, yet the pain persists, often without a clear cause.
Unlike acute pain, chronic pain doesn’t respond to treatments as you’d expect. Painkillers, ice, or heat therapy may bring little to no relief, and in some cases, they can even make the pain feel worse. Chronic pain arises when the body’s alarm system is effectively “stuck,” becoming hypersensitive to harmless stimuli. This type of pain can lead to significant physical disability, emotional distress, and confusion, as it can feel impossible to understand why the pain remains despite healing.
Living with Chronic Pain
Chronic pain can be incredibly frustrating, and its persistence can make you feel isolated or even like you’re “going crazy.” This type of pain is complex, as it impacts not just your body but also your mental well-being, daily activities, and quality of life.
Seeking Help for Chronic Pain
If you or someone you know is living with chronic pain, it’s essential to seek professional support. Learning about the mechanisms of pain and understanding that your pain is real, even if it isn’t directly tied to an injury, can be a crucial step in managing it.