There is much to learn, but the most important ideas are covered here in several languages (scroll to the bottom to find).
So, pain is actually a protective response – just like the fight or flight response, or an immune response.
What were once described as pain nerves are actually nociceptors and can be referred to as danger detectors. They use electrical signals to send information to the brain about possible danger.
The brain then weighs up all the information that’s arriving, along with stored information from previous experiences and what has been learned, to decide whether to produce pain sensations to protect the body’s tissues.
Sometimes the information from the danger detectors isn’t acted upon until other information is also received by the brain. Like a paper cut might not be felt until you see that it’s bleeding – the brain recognises bleeding as not good and makes pain.
Thanks to pain science, we now know that:
- Danger detectors (known as nociceptors) don’t transmit pain, they send information
- Sometimes this isn’t acted on until the brain receives other information
- Only the brain decides whether to create pain
- Expectations can influence outcomes: if you expect a treatment or movement will make things worse, it probably will; expect it to do good and you’ll start to feel better
The purpose of pain is to protect you. Once you understand that it’s protecting you against damage that may never happen, you can start to move outside your comfort zone – and make it go away.
This fact sheet is not specific medical advice. But we really hope that, once you’ve read it, you’ll understand more about pain and the latest ways of managing it.
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Translations
Italian - Dolore significa protezione
Portuguese - Dor é igual a proteção