There is not a single definition of pain that is appropriate
for everybody because it is a highly subjective experience.
What, to another person, is excruciating may be nothing more
that a slight discomfort for you. Not only do views of pain
vary among individuals, your own perception of it can change
over time. Even when you do have a clear perception of what
pain means to you, there is not an objective way to measure
it you can use to convey your impressions to somebody else.
It is not unusual for patients in a doctor's office, who
have come in because pain is severely impairing their day-
to-day lives, to have great difficulty describing it
clearly.
One thing we do know, however, is the difference between
when we are hurting and when we are not. In the case of
acute pain, you may cry out from it and experience terrible
suffering for a time, but it ends eventually, and usually
the sufferer returns to their normal activities and way of
life.
Chronic pain is different. A sufferer of chronic pain not
only hurts, but they keep on hurting. Indeed, the
psychological impact of chronic pain can be worse than the
physical sensation itself, especially when the daily grind
of it wears you down and turns the world grim. Acute pain
usually does not change one's personality. Chronic pain, if
not addressed properly, can alter it drastically.
Chronic pain may have a physical basis, a psychological
basis, or some mix of the two. Maybe it comes from an
injury. Maybe it comes from stress. Maybe the two factors
are interconnected. People who cannot pinpoint a clear
physical connection often say, or are told, that it is "all
in their heads." But that is not how it feels.
Chronic back pain caused by stress can hurt just as badly as
chronic pain that resulted from falling off of a roof. It
has been estimated that over 34 million Americans suffer
from chronic pain, be it from arthritis, migraine headaches
or their backs (with lower back pain being the most common).
15 million people experience chronic pain at work on a daily
basis. So if you are a sufferer of chronic pain you are not
alone - though it can certainly feel that way.
What can you do about it?
To begin with, you must make sure clear lines of
communication have been established with you physician(s)
and any other health care providers being seen for chronic
back pain. Do not just assume it is your cross to bear and
suffer in silence. Though it is true that the majority of
back pain in general is not symptomatic of serious illness,
do not assume you are therefore free from all risk. There
have been cases of people whose backs' hurt persistently and
they just mistook it for a fact of life and went on the best
they could, only to discover that "bad back" was really a
sign of something much worse, like cancer or otherwise
damaged internal organs.
So, in conclusion, if you are suffering from any form of
back pain, do not suffer in silence and contact your doctor
to discuss your problem at the very earliest convenience.
About the Author
Tony Newton publishes the popular health and wellness
website - http://www.1st-for-health.com
With lots of informative articles on low carb diets,
hair loss, arthritis pain relief, obesity and lots more.