Pain, sensations and functions of our body are all determined by the nervous system.  This consists of the brain, spinal cord and the nerves that branch off from them.  These nerves go to every part of your body.  This system is responsible for everything your body does. 

Here are the 3 types of nerves in our body:

1. Autonomic nerves. 

   These nerves control the things we don't even think about.  Like digestion, heartbeat, blood flow.  

2. Motor nerves. 

   These are signals passed up and down the brain, to the spinal cord and then out to the muscles for movement.

3. Sensory nerves. 

   These nerves relay information from your skin and muscles back to your spinal cord and brain. Touching someone on the arm, stepping on something on the ground will all send sensory signals back up to the brain.  

People experience pain when nerves called "nociceptors" detect tissue damage and dysfunction.  They then send signals back up the spinal cord and to the brain.   The brain has primitive sections that have been with humans since we were created.  The brain will see any stress, damage or malfunction as "dangerous".  When this happens, the brain will then transmit these pain signals to the area involved.  

Here are the different types of pain:

1. Acute pain

This type of pain is when we first injure ourselves.  It is an emergency response to damage.  This pain is normally intense and short-lived. This will start our sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight) to kick in.  Our heartbeat increases and breathing will become more rapid.  

There are 3 different types of acute pain:

• Somatic pain: This is superficial pain.  It will be felt on the skin or the soft tissues just around the skin.
• Visceral pain: This is pain in the internal organs and the linings of cavities in the body.
• Referred pain: This is pain that is caused by a particular area or body part but is felt somewhere else.  Examples would be gallbladder (right shoulder pain) and shoulder pain when having a heart attack. 

Treatment for acute pain if you see a medical doctor will normally be anti-inflammatory or pain drugs.  

2. Chronic pain

This type of pain lasts far longer than acute pain.  It is harder to heal and can become an on and off again type of pain.  It can be mild, moderate or severe.  It can happen sporadically or be a constant pain.  An example would be a headache.  Sometimes it may be weeks without having one and other times they may happen everyday.  It really depends on how much stress you are under and if your body can handle it. 

If enough acute pain occurs, a buildup of electrical signals in the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) become over stimulated and inflamed leading to long term issues.

This effect is known as “windup,” just like a wind-up toy. If you wind up a toy as far as it can be wound up, it will go faster and last longer.  That is the same with chronic pain.
 

Other types of pain: 

• Neuropathic pain: 

  This involves the peripheral nerves (nerves that branch off the spinal cord) to the rest of the body. You can experience shocks, numbness, tingling, tenderness and discomfort. 

• Phantom pain: 

  This occurs after amputation of a limb. People can have pain in the area that has been amputated even though the limb has been removed.  

• Central pain: 

  This type of pain often occurs due to damage to the sensory pathway of the nervous system.  This can be caused by infarction, abscesses, cancer, degeneration, or bleeding in the brain and spinal cord. 

Chronic pain can be treated with drugs but in most cases medical doctors will refer out for longer term solutions.  That is where chiropractic comes in. We can help with acute and chronic pain by helping the nervous system restore and heal by relieving the stress and strain on the area involved.  Even in cases of chronic visceral or organ pain.  

Other indicators of a person experiencing pain: 

Some people can not verbally express that they are in pain but there are signs that show that someone is experiencing discomfort.  

• restlessness
• crying
• moaning and groaning
• grimacing
• resistance to care
• reduced social interactions
• increased wandering
• not eating
• sleeping problems

With adequate pain management and keeping your body healthy, you will be able to get back to living a quality life. Dr. Amie Gregory, DC, CCEP, ANF is an expert at helping patients alleviate pain and restore proper function to the body. Contact us today!

References: 

https://www.webmd.com/brain/nerve-pain-and-nerve-damage-symptoms-and-causes