Your body has a complex network of communication lines (nerves) that transmit pain signals to and from the brain. This network serves as protection against injury and illness. For example, let's say you stub your toe against the wall. The injury message is immediately sent your brain, which serves as an emergency communication center for the body. In turn, the brain sends out a pain message that something is wrong and dispatches a rescue team to the injured area. In the case of a minor injury or illness, the rescue team may be made up of microscopic cells. These microscopic cells respond much like a clean-up crew would after a wild party: repairing damaged areas with collagen and other reparative materials and chemicals as well as cleaning up the trauma site by absorbing cellular debris to allow for revascularization (increased blood flow) of the damaged area. In a severe case, there may be the need for a human rescue team, such as paramedics, who respond in an ambulance.
Paying attention to your body's pain signals is vital to improving your quality of life. The pain messages you experience should serve as a motivator for you to take action, not something that you should ignore or avoid.
There are two basic types of pain, acute and chronic.
Acute pain is like a sudden burst or explosion of sensation, stemming from an injury such as spraining an ankle or stubbing your toe. It happens quickly and causes severe or sharp pain that usually dissipates (resolves) in a short period of time. Acute pain resolves quicker than chronic pain because the inflammation-and-pain cycles elapse much more quickly and without complications compared to the chronic pain cycle.
Chronic pain, such as arthritis, is like uninvited company: it lingers for a long time and sometimes never goes away. Chronic pain lingers because of several factors, including severity of injury/illness, inaccurate diagnosis, inadequate treatment, poor physical, mental, or emotional status, or a prolonged cycle of inflammation, pain, and spasm. It is estimated that over 100 million Americans suffer from chronic pain.
