Pain is transmitted to the brain from sensory nerves. Substances that decrease pain either interfere with the ability of nerves to conduct messages, or alter the brain’s capacity to receive sensations.
Pain may be a symptom of an underlying pathological condition, such as inflammation. It may also be due to other causes, such as bruising, infection, burns, headaches, and sprains and strains. Use caution when treating pain without understanding its cause may delay diagnosis of conditions that could continue to worsen without medical attention.
What are the symptoms of pain?
Symptoms of pain include discomfort that is often worsened by movement or pressure and may be associated with irritability, problems sleeping, and fatigue. People with pain may have uncomfortable sensations described as burning, sharp, stabbing, aching, throbbing, tingling, shooting, dull, heavy, and tight.
How is it treated?
Conventional treatment includes the use of oral medications such as aspirin or other salicylate analgesics, cortisone or related drugs, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (e.g., ibuprofen, [Motrin®, Advil®, Nuprin®], naproxen and others. In cases of severe pain, prescription narcotics, such as codeine or morphine, or surgical treatments to disrupt the pain signal may be recommended.
Lifestyle changes that may be helpful:
Body weight may be related to pain tolerance. One study indicated women who are more than 30% above the ideal weight for their age experience pain more quickly and more intensely than do women of ideal weight. No research has investigated the effect of weight loss on pain tolerance.
Exercise increases pain tolerance in some situations, in part because exercise may raise levels of naturally occurring painkillers (endorphins and enkephalins). Many types of chronic pain are helped by exercise, though some types of physical activity may aggravate certain painful conditions. People who want to initiate an exercise program for increasing pain tolerance should first consult a qualified health professional. |
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