Understanding Pain

There are many different types of pain, different reasons for starting, it has different affects as to what we can and can’t do, and there is a myriad of different combinations of what makes it better or worse. So how can we possible understand what pain means? In this blog we are going to delve deeper into what pain means, and therefore what it is that we can do in response.

From my experience of seeing thousands of people in pain, I understand that the first thing we all want to do when we get pain, is for it to stop! It’s uncomfortable, it stops us doing things, we can’t think straight, so of course, the quicker it goes the better. But who ever we are, whatever age we are, young, old, fit, healthy, health challenged etc we will all feel pain. It is a universal human experience. Pain is are bodies way of giving us information about an area(s) that needs our attention. Focusing our attention in on understanding our unique pain, gives us the tools to help ourselves. Ignoring it, only leads to our body needing to ‘shout’ a little louder for you to hear next time. So let’s delve a little deeper into what it is our bodies’ are trying to tell us.

To take the next step, we need to really feel all the sensations going on in body. Allowing ourselves this time, space and safety to ‘let go’, so that whatever is going on, we can say to ourselves ‘I’m ok, this is happening, so I need to feel it, I’m safe to feel it’. Just taking this first step to listen to your body, can open up the possibility for healing and change. When we can feel, then we can start getting some clarity.

Our Inquiry

What kind of sensation is this? (hot, cold, throbbing, fizzy, tight, sharp, dull, achy, weak, heavy, unbalanced, not me) If we have clarity on what character of sensation it is, then we know more about it, and when it changes.

Where is it coming from and going to? Where does it start and finish? Sometimes when we have a sensation for a long time it can feel like our whole body is involved, so its good to map out areas of different types of sensation. As with all these questions, when we take on the role of the observer, we can give ourselves perspective rather than being overwhelmed with sensations. It is from this stance that we are able to help ourselves more affectively.

What makes it better and worse? This really gives us tools to help ourselves, and can empower us to make decisions that put our welfare first. E.g. standing or sitting for too long aggravates, so in my day I need to change my position regularly. Or: lifting really hurts, so I’m going to ask for help with lifting, or making sure I have allowed myself more time to do something/ change how I cuddle my child-sitting rather than lifting them up on my hip ( our children have more understanding than we give them credit for). Or – sitting on the sofa is bad, so I’m going to put an upright chair in the lounge while I heal etc. Or cold really helps, so I keep some frozen peas ready for when I need them.

The last question is – What thoughts and emotions do I have about this? Are your thoughts going into overdrive – because I have this pain I will no longer be able to do…. because I have this pain, it will never go. Because I have this pain it means I’m useless/ I’ve fail, not a good enough parent/spouse/employee. All these thoughts, and there are a plethora of examples, add another layer for your body to cope with. A pressure or a deadline, or an ultimatum – ‘there is not much point in looking after myself because I’m useless’ or maybe you are convinced that you are doing all the ‘right things’ to help yourself, yet your body still hurts because actually they aren’t the right things for you, at this time, with this type of pain. Which brings us nicely back to where we started, and checking in with what is actually going on, what you feel, where is it, what makes it better and worse and what thoughts have I attached to this sensation?

I’m hoping by now you are beginning to understand that what we experience in our body is unique to us. There is no one size fits all, and by being open to understanding your own unique pain, it opens us up to understanding what our body is asking us to do and not do, without our heads getting in the way. We have the tools, we can make sure we have the motivation – to get better, and now you have the framework to start trying it out.

Our experience of pain or discomfort, could then be the opportunity to connect with yourself better, not a reason to disconnect. Let me know how you get on and what insights you gain from allowing yourself to feel and understand your pain.