Our bodies can act in funny ways. One minute you feel great, and the next moment you can have sharp lower back pain seemingly from no where or from a simple movement. Pain is felt in the brain in response to nervous system input. Once you reach the pain threshold you feel it. Before that point you might have felt no indication of a problem. Everyone is unique and different situations for the same person can provide a range of responses. There are many factors that influence pain and the threshold at which you feel it including: genetics, stress and coping mechanisms, gender, previous injuries, weight and psychological factors. Obviously there are some factors that we can and can not influence.
Genetics, gender and many psychological factors are out of our control. People can have more pain receptors, or in the case of redheads, a mutation in the pain receptor gene. Women are more sensitive to pain but are equal in their ability to tolerate pain intensities, with the big exception of childbirth. People affected by depression and anxiety can be more sensitive to pain.
There are aspects of pain that we have control over. The brain perceives pain based on input from the nervous system. We can't change the input from the nerves but we can change the perception. Reducing stress and using coping mechanisms such as breathing practices, biofeedback and relaxation. Meditation can also reduce the experience of pain. People who smoke, are sedentary and/or are over weight experience more pain. A plan to quit smoking, exercise and eat healthy can reduce pain significantly. Previous injuries can condition the brain to feel more pain especially when those injuries effect the nervous system directly or indirectly. Getting old injuries healthy and maintaining a proper exercise and stretching routine can go a long way to improving pain.
Dr. Nelson
Genetics, gender and many psychological factors are out of our control. People can have more pain receptors, or in the case of redheads, a mutation in the pain receptor gene. Women are more sensitive to pain but are equal in their ability to tolerate pain intensities, with the big exception of childbirth. People affected by depression and anxiety can be more sensitive to pain.
There are aspects of pain that we have control over. The brain perceives pain based on input from the nervous system. We can't change the input from the nerves but we can change the perception. Reducing stress and using coping mechanisms such as breathing practices, biofeedback and relaxation. Meditation can also reduce the experience of pain. People who smoke, are sedentary and/or are over weight experience more pain. A plan to quit smoking, exercise and eat healthy can reduce pain significantly. Previous injuries can condition the brain to feel more pain especially when those injuries effect the nervous system directly or indirectly. Getting old injuries healthy and maintaining a proper exercise and stretching routine can go a long way to improving pain.
Dr. Nelson
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