The International Association for the Study of Pain defines it as “an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with, or resembling that associated with, actual or potential tissue damage.”
While this gives the phenomenon of feeling pain a broad definition, pain is a personal experience, which is affected by both biological and psychological and social.
What causes pain?
Pain occurs when nerves in the body sense tissue damage. These nerves send a message to our brain so that it can begin the process of healing and recovery. This chain reaction can be caused by a variety of ailments, including illness, inflammation or injury.
"Pain is your body’s way of warning your brain that something is wrong with your body. While this is obviously a good thing, it can negatively impact your life from a functional as well as a psychological perspective," says Clicks Pharmacist Waheed Abdurahman. "This is why it is important to know how to treat pain in order to stop it from preventing you from living a normal life."
Types of pain
According to Abdurahman, how you treat pain is determined by the level of pain you are feeling. The higher the level of pain, the stronger the medication needed.
These levels are:
- Mild pain, which can be treated with non-opioid painkillers such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or paracetamol.
- Moderate pain, which can be treated with weak opioids (such as tramadol or codeine) with or without non-opioid painkillers.
- Chronic or ongoing pain, which can be treated with strong opioids (such as morphine) with or without non-opioid painkillers.
Click here to view our pain relief products
Also read: Pain: Tension-type headaches and migraines
IMAGE CREDIT: 123rf.com
* Reliance on any information provided on this Website is solely at your own risk.
The content of this Website is provided as a service to you for educational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are experiencing symptoms or need medical advice, you should seek the advice of your healthcare professional.