
Definition
The International Association for the Study of Pain defines pain as:“An unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage, or described in terms of such damage.” IASP TerminologyFor the layman, pain is a highly discomforting experience. It can be brought on from an injury or could be the brain is having problems processing pain signals correctly. Pain can vary in its:
- Severity
- Time/s when it presents
- Location
- Involvement of other areas of the body
- Aching
- Burning
- Cramping
- Dull
- Electric
- Intense
- Sharp
- Shooting
- Stabbing

Causes
What causes chronic pain is not always clear and can be challenging to diagnose the root cause. There are possibilities like:- Injury – Even after an injury has healed, the nerves can still send pain signals to the brain. Medical experts are unsure why this happens.
- Disease – There are conditions that can cause chronic pain. Fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, headaches, and shingles are a few examples.
- Nerve issues/problems – the nerves of the nervous system can be injured themselves. This type is known as neuropathic pain.
- Unknown/Other – Pain can develop, even with no obvious injury, disease, or nerve problem.
