WHAT IS PAIN?

Pain is an unpleasant sensation which signals an actual or possible injury.3 The intensity of pain varies from mild to intolerable and may be felt over a single site or a large area.3 The nature of the pain may be difficult to describe as it may be sharp or dull, intermittent or constant, throbbing or steady.3

The ability to withstand pain differs remarkably, and often depends on a person’s mood, personality or circumstance.3 Pain can be characterised as physical and emotional. How you feel and react to pain depends on what’s causing it, as well as many personal factors.4

THERE ARE TWO MAIN PAIN CATEGORIES:

SHORT TERM (ACUTE):4

Acute pain:4

Is triggered by tissue damage. You know exactly where it hurts and why it hurts, e.g. when you cut your finger or sprain an ankle. Acute pain resolves within a certain amount of time. You might feel acute pain when you have an illness, injury or surgery.

LONG TERM (CHRONIC):4

Chronic pain:4

Is persistent, lasting for months or even longer, and the cause may not always be clear. Chronic pain is considered a health condition in itself.

PAIN DRAINS YOUR ENERGY AND INTERFERES WITH YOUR ABILITY TO TAKE PART IN YOUR DAILY ACTIVITIES. IT CAN NEGATIVELY AFFECT YOUR RELATIONSHIPS AND INTERACTIONS WITH OTHERS.4

TYPES OF PAIN

Pain can affect any part of your body. Some of the most common forms of pain include back and neck pain, joint pain, headaches, pain from nerve damage and pain from an injury.4

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MUSCULOSKELETAL INJURIES

The musculoskeletal system is made up of bones, muscles, and the tissues that connect them (ligaments, tendons, and other connective tissue, which are called soft tissues). These structures give the body its form, make it stable, and enable it to move.1

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SYMPTOMS

Symptoms of sprains and strains vary depending on how severe the injury is. The muscle, tendon or ligament may just have been stretched, or in more severe cases, some or all of the tissue fibers may have been torn.1,2

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BEAT THE PAIN