We all experience pain differently. What feels mild and manageable to one person may feel severe and debilitating to another. Pain can vary in its intensity, location, duration and sensation, and may be described as sharp, dull, burning, throbbing, aching, tingling or shooting. Being able to explain what your pain feels like, where it occurs, when it started and what makes it better or worse, can provide your healthcare provider with valuable information. Describing your pain as accurately as possible can help them identify its possible cause, determine the type of pain you are experiencing and develop an appropriate treatment plan to manage your discomfort and improve your quality of life.
Generally, pain can be described as ‘acute’ or ‘chronic’. Acute pain refers to a relatively short period of pain usually caused by soft tissue damage. The pain subsides once the reason for its cause has been dealt with or the tissues have healed. Chronic pain lasts longer than acute pain and is often associated with a long-term medical condition, for example, osteoarthritis.
We can also classify pain according to its cause: firstly, neuropathic pain or pain caused by nerve damage, an example being diabetic neuropathy; and secondly, nociceptive pain – pain caused by tissue damage. Soft tissue includes muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia (a type of connective tissue), blood vessels, fat and skin. This tissue either connects, supports or surrounds structures and organs of the body. Most sports injuries are a result of tissue damage – twisting an ankle or pulling a shoulder muscle – and can be acute.
Psychogenic pain is pain that is influenced or triggered by psychological factors such as stress, anxiety, depression or emotional distress. However, this does not mean that the pain is imagined. In many cases, there may be an underlying physical pain mechanism, with the pain being neuropathic or nociceptive in origin. Psychological factors can affect how the nervous system processes and responds to these pain signals, potentially increasing their intensity, duration or impact on daily life. Understanding the interaction between physical and psychological factors is therefore important when assessing and treating persistent pain.
Your healthcare professional will ask you detailed questions to locate, identify and grade your pain. They may ask you what aggravates it or what helps ease your symptoms. A pain management plan will then be prescribed and your symptoms will be treated accordingly.
MYO2 Recovery Gel for Muscle Support
Give your body the support it needs to recover with MYO2 Recovery Gel. Apply the cool, soothing gel directly to the painful or inflamed area and massage deeply, up to five times a day. Specially formulated with two natural, complementary ingredients, Arnica montana and Horse Chestnut, MYO2 helps soothe the symptoms of inflammation while the massaging action stimulates circulation, encouraging blood and oxygen to reach the affected tissues. Improved circulation also helps deliver essential nutrients and remove metabolic waste, supporting the body’s natural recovery process.
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