PAIN

Pain is always subjective. Your pain is unique to yourself.

Acute pain is usually related to an identifiable occurrence such as an injury, surgery or infection and resolves within a certain time period. Chronic pain is one that does not resolve within the reasonably expected period.

Pain can be localised or vague and will diminish as you recover. Pain can be described a sharp, stinging, burning, dull, aching, deep, cramps, squeezing, shooting, stabbing, people may suffer one type of pain or multiple types. Pain may come on suddenly, or may develop over a period of time. It may not be present continuously, rather only with certain activity or movement.

Pain is usually measured on a scale from 0-10. 0 is no pain and 10 is the worst pain imaginable. Painful stimuli travel from the affected area, through to the spinal cord and up to the brain. Here it is processed and a reaction is produced.

Pain is often a good guide to rehabilitation. Listen to your body, it is good at letting you know what you can and cannot do however you need to understand the type of pain you are experiencing. Sharp stabbing pains should generally be avoided early in the rehabilitation processes, whereby stretching, working pains can be ok. Pain from exercise and activity should ease when the activity has ceased, so if the pain persists for a few hours or more, then you are probably overdoing it. It is important to gradually resume normal activity as healing allows. Pain diminishes as tissues heal and function returns. Your treating practitioner will help to guide you through this process. Understanding the reasons for pain is important for healing. If you are unsure as to why you have pain, ask your doctor.

Ice is very helpful in reducing pain, you can Ice for 20 minutes every 2 hours following trauma or irritation. It is most effective in the first 72 hours.

Healing follows a clear and distinct pathway. The first 48-72 hours following trauma, bleeding occurs. This is followed by inflammation whereby the healing cells come into the area and commence the healing process. Scarring occurs next as tissue is regenerated and the final stage is remodelling where tissues are refined as close to their original function as possible. This process takes different time periods for different body structures. Soft tissues take around 6 weeks to heal, skin heals quickly. Upper limb bones take 6 weeks; lower limb and spinal bones take around 12 weeks however full return to normal function can take longer.

Ownership of your condition is important to recovery. It is your body, your condition, your pain. Your treating practitioners can help you throughout the healing process, but it is your responsibility to get better. Realistic goal setting is helpful in avoiding frustration and disappointment.