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The latest in back and joint pain medical news (traditional and alternative) from scientists and medical professionals throughout the world.
Medical Information
Simple descriptions of popular topics listed below:
All About Pain
7 October 2001
Pain is described as an unpleasant feeling resulting from a noxious stimulus to the sensory nerve endings. The response a person experiences to pain is very subjective and varies widely between different people. It is dependent on our past experiences, along with mental, social and cultural influences.
Types of Pain
Pain can be described as being acute or chronic. It is also described according to the locality or nature of the pain. Eg. Referred, radiating, sharp, dull, burning, superficial or deep. The intensity of pain we experience depends on the cause of the pain as well as our perception of the pain sensation.
The Pain Pathway
Nerve endings, or receptors, in our body pick up the painful stimulus. The receptors then send the pain signal along nerve fibres, to the spinal cord where the signal is then transmitted to the brain. This causes us to respond to the pain and a message is sent down from the brain for us to respond. Eg. Touching a hot surface - the painful sensation is conveyed along nerves, up the spinal cord to the brain and the brain sends a signal back down to the hand to move away from the hot plate. These messages are sent very quickly causing us to respond almost immediately.
Back Pain
Back pain is a common problem experienced by many people. There are several sites that may be the cause of back pain. Eg. Joints, ligaments, discs and muscles. Nerves exit the spinal cord between individual vertebrae, which can be a source of pain. Back pain may also be non-specific. There could be an imbalance with weak muscles, which causes an abnormal strain on the structures of the back causing pain. Stress can also lead to muscle tension resulting in back pain. When a person experiences back pain they may try to protect the back by adopting a different posture or by tensing the muscles in the back resulting in pain.
Treatment
The treatment options for pain are varied. Some of the options are outlined below:
- Medication -painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs, anti depressants, injections (eg. Cortisone)
- Physiotherapy - ultrasound, exercise, manual techniques, hydrotherapy.
- Electrical stimulation - TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation). A pocket sized battery operated machine that sends signals to the nerve endings near the site of pain and can override that painful sensation experienced.
- Relaxation.
- Alternative therapies - acupuncture, Bowen Therapy, Feldenkrais.
- Surgery - may be appropriate in some situations depending on the cause of the pain.
Prevention
"Prevention is the best cure"
This commonly heard phrase is true for pain as well. While there are certain things that we cannot prevent, there are ways we can help to prevent pain from being a part of our life. A healthy diet and regular exercise have been well documented as ways of improving our health. Sufficient sleep is also important. Relaxation, meditation and yoga may also of benefit.
PAIN OF ANY NATURE IS AN UNPLEASANT EXPERIENCE. ANYONE WHO EXPERIENCES UNRELENTING PAIN SHOULD SEEK PROFESSIONAL ADVICE.
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