We see a lot of different people react in different ways to their pain. From ignoring it, to medicating it, to finding all sorts of things on Amazon and eBay to trying to leave it. Some people prefer Conservative treatment while other people go straight to drugs in surgery.
Almost all tissues in the body have the potential to transmit pain signals through nerve fibers called nociceptors. Nociceptors are specialized sensory neurons that respond to potentially harmful stimuli, such as extreme temperature, mechanical pressure, or chemical irritants, by sending signals to the brain, resulting in the sensation of pain.
Think of it like electricity signals. However, in the body you have messages going from the brain to the body, and the body to the brain.. Without these messages, you would put your hand on a hot stove and not feel the pain and your brain wouldn’t respond by taking your hand off. As a result you injure yourself significantly.. They’re there for a reason, and we should not ignore it.
While most tissues have nociceptors not all parts of the body have the same level of sensitivity, the density and distribution of these pain fibers can vary. Some areas might have a higher concentration of nociceptors and therefore be more sensitive to pain. For example, tissues that are more exposed to the external environment, like the skin, have a higher density of nociceptors compared to internal organs which are less sensitive .
And the severity of the pain doesn’t represent the severity of the problem. For example, a Papercut is quite painful. But there are people out there with cancer who have no pain..
So here are 5 fun facts about pain.
Fact 1: The brain itself does not have pain fibers or nociceptors. The brain lacks pain receptors, which means it doesn’t experience pain in the same way that other parts of the body do. This is why brain surgeries can be performed while the patient is awake without causing pain in the brain tissue itself.
However, the structures surrounding the brain, such as the meninges and blood vessels, do contain pain-sensitive nerve fibers. When these structures are irritated or inflamed, they can transmit signals to the brain that are interpreted as headaches or other forms of discomfort.
These signals originate from nociceptors in the tissues around the brain, not from the brain tissue itself.
Fact 2: Pain Perception Varies Widely
Did you know that pain perception is highly subjective and can vary widely among individuals? This can be influenced by genetic factors, previous experiences, cultural background, and even mood.
What might be excruciating to one person might be tolerable to another, emphasizing the interplay between our physical and emotional states. It can be learned through chronic pain, or it can be acquired through conditioning. For example, long distance runners have a better ability to block out pain than short distance runners .
Fact 3: Phantom Limb Pain
Phantom limb pain is a phenomenon where individuals who have lost a limb still experience pain in the absent body part. This intriguing occurrence highlights the complexity of the brain’s mapping of the body and raises questions about the brain’s adaptability and plasticity in response to sensory changes.
Fact 4: Gate Control Theory
Have you heard of the Gate Control Theory of pain? This theory proposes that the brain can prioritize certain sensory inputs over others, effectively “closing the gate” to pain signals. This is why activities like rubbing an injured area can provide temporary relief – the tactile stimulation competes with the pain signals, reducing their impact.
Think of your brain like a computer, and it can only process so much information at once. If you increase the sensation of one thing, you might decrease the perception of another thing.
Fact 5: Are you using medications, injectable anaesthetics, or pain implants to minimise your pain. Some provide temporary relief or permanent relief. The jury is out as to whether this is considered the best approach. Because your pain fibres are there telling you to stop doing something. But if your pain receptors are blocked and you continue to do it, you may the causing further damage..
Research suggests that Conservative treatment is always the best approach first and medication in surgery should be used as a last resort..
BUT like I said before, pain is there for a reason and we shouldn’t ignore it.
It is often the last thing to come in the first thing to leave.
About 90% of my cases I see, people with chronic problems could’ve prevented it if we had of found it years before..
It’s no different to getting your teeth checked regularly to prevent tooth decay. So when was your last visit for a chiropractic check up?