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About pain

Understanding chronic pain

Pain is produced by the brain and can negatively affect our quality of life. Chronic pain is a common, but complex issue that is influenced by many factors.

Types of pain

Pain can be divided, according to the origin and duration of the pain, into three major categories: Acute, Chronic and Labour pain.

Definition of pain

Pain has been defined as “an unpleasant sensory or emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage, or described in terms of such damage”.

Assessment of pain

The experience of pain is different for different people. The best person to assess the patient's pain is the patient him or herself.

Using the wrong painkillers?

You've taken four tablets for a splitting headache, but they don't seem to be working. So you try two other types – painkillers are painkillers, right? Not so, say the experts.

Physiology of pain

Pain stimulates pain receptors, and this stimulus is transferred via specialised nerves to the spinal cord and from there up to the brain.

Pushing pain away

The human body never ceases to amaze. For example, its intricate system of muscles and reflexes are closely linked and work in harmony.

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