Physiotherapy: Pain - What is It?

Pain is a sensation that hurts. It may cause discomfort, distress or agony. It may be steady or throbbing. It may be stabbing, aching, or pinching. However you feel pain, only you can describe it or define it. Because pain is so individual, your pain cannot be “checked out” by anyone else. Pain may be acute or chronic. Acute pain is severe and lasts a relatively short time. It is usually a signal that body tissue is being injured in some way, and the pain generally disappears when the injury heals. Chronic pain may range from mild to severe, and it is present to some degree for long periods of time.

What Do I Tell Those Caring For Me About My Pain?

If you are feeling pain, you need to be able to describe it to those who are trained to help you. Some people find pain very hard to explain. Try to use words that will help others understand what you are feeling. Your doctor and others who are caring for you need to know:

-Where do you feel your pain?
-When did it begin?
-What does it feel like? Sharp? Dull? Throbbing? Steady?
-How bad is it?
-Does it prevent you from doing your daily activities? Which ones?
-What relieves your pain?
-What makes it worse?
-What have you tried for pain relief? What helped? What did not help?
-What have you done in the past to relieve other kinds of pain?
-Is your pain constant? If not, how many times a day (or week) does it occur?
-How long does it last each time?

Pain has different effects on different people. Be sure that those who are caring for you know about the effects. Don’t hesitate to talk about your pain to those who can help you. You have a right to the best pain control you can get. Relieving your pain means you can continue to do the everyday things that are important to you. Remember, only you know what you are feeling.

http://www.hospicenet.org

Pain is no evil unless it conquers us.

-George Eliot.