Pain means different things to different people and different things to the same person at different times.
Pain is something that you feel physically; your body senses it and we know a great deal about the physical side of pain. However, pain is also something you feel emotionally. Pain is personal to you and is affected by your experiences and your individual response to pain. It is also affected by your mood from day to day. For example, on days that you are feeling down, you may notice pain more than on days when you are feeling happy. So it can sometimes be hard for doctors, friends and family to understand exactly what you are feeling with your pain.
It is important to distinguish between acute and chronic pain.
Acute pain is generally sudden in onset, and lasts a relatively short time. It is often a response to an illness or an injury. Acute pain generally disappears when the injury heals or the illness goes away (either of its own accord, or after successful treatment), or the body can no longer detect the source of the pain.
Chronic or persistent pain lasts for at least 3 months and may range from mild to severe. It may remain constant, or it can come and go but it will be present to at least some degree for long periods of time.
Pain, whether or not it is severe, can be so distracting that it affects your quality of life. It may prevent you from completing your daily tasks like housework or gardening. It may affect your sleep and your ability to work. If uncontrolled, chronic long-lasting pain can affect relationships with loved ones and it can impact your enjoyment of life.
Fortunately, pain can usually be controlled. If you are in pain, it is important to see a doctor and find out how. The management of pain tackles both its physical and its emotional components, involving not only medications, but also stress relief and relaxation techniques, physical therapy and exercise.
This section is not a definitive review of pain. For more information on pain and pain management, you should speak to your health professional.
