Contributed by: Healthians Team
Introduction
Pain is a broad phrase that refers to any sort of unpleasant sensation in your body, such as burning, pinching, stinging, or throbbing. It can range from a little ache that is often overlooked to severe discomfort that can lead to significant health problems.
Pain might be persistent or occur only under certain conditions. It can come and go at any time, and if you give any symptom of discomfort the benefit of the doubt, it can lead to serious health issues. For instance, when you begin exercising, you may have full-body pain or discomfort in particular areas owing to muscle contractions, but full-body pain can also be a sign of illnesses such as the flu or viral fever.
The burning sensation in your chest might be caused by gas from digestive issues or it could be a symptom of a heart attack. In this blog, you will learn more about the types of pain and what it indicates.
What are the different types of pain?
Your body may experience a range of pains caused by several causes such as an internal or external injury, the flu, migraines, or any other medical condition. It is critical to understand the type of pain you are experiencing to properly treat it. Below are the names and causes of common pains you may experience.
Acute Pain
Acute pain is a sharp pain experienced for a short period by the body as a response or reflex to any ailment or injury. The acute pain can go away on the same day, in a few days, in weeks, or months.
Some of the examples of acute pain are:
- Pulling your arm away from the flame
- Your body’s reflex when you get an injury like a cut
- Acute pain can develop as a result of any illness
- Medical procedures like surgery, or injection
Chronic Pain
Chronic pain lasts longer than acute pain and is caused by injuries or underlying conditions such as migraine, neuropathic pain, chronic arthritis, fibromyalgia, chronic back pain, or cancer. Experts recommend seeing a doctor as soon as you notice chronic pain since it can be difficult to pinpoint the cause because you may be in pain even if you don’t have any injury or medical condition.
Nociceptive Pain
When you have injured tissue as a consequence of fractures, bruises, burns, or cuts, you will experience nociceptive pain. This discomfort might also be caused by underlying medical problems such as arthritis, osteoporosis, or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Somatic pain occurs when nociceptive pain originates in the skin, muscles, ligaments, joints, or bones, while visceral pain happens when nociceptive pain develops in the internal organs.
Neuropathic Pain
As the term indicates, neuropathic pain arises when a nerve is injured. Various diseases, such as shingles, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, or cancer, can cause nerve injury. For example, having slip discs can result in neuropathic pain. Experience of stabbing, shooting, burning, or prickling feeling anywhere in the body can be a result of neuropathic pain.
Functional Pain
Functional pain is usually chronic, although it can also be acute in some situations, and it is not caused by any underlying diseases or traumas in the body. Fibromyalgia (generalized pain across the body), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), abdominal pain, and jaw and chest discomfort are some of the examples of functional pain.
9 Important Signs & Symptoms To Remember Related To Pain
- Heart Attack Symptoms
- Pain and/or pressure near the heart
- A feeling of fullness or squeezing
- Shooting pain in your left arm
- Pain and discomfort in the upper area of your body
- Breath shortness, cold sweat
- Nausea and lightheaded feeling
- Stroke Symptoms
- Arm weakness and severe headache
- Difficulty in speaking and increasing dizziness
- Sudden numbness and loss of vision
- Confusion and weakness
- Reproductive health probelem symptoms
- Bleeding between periods
- Itching or irritating genital areas
- Pain or discomfort during sex
- Abdominal pain
- Unusual vaginal discharge
- Frequent urge to urinate
- Breast Problem Symptoms
- Breast pain and unusual nipple discharge
- Breast and nipple skin changes
- Lump near the breast
- Lump near the underarm
- Lung Problem Symptoms
- Chronic cough
- Blood in cough
- Breathing difficulty and shortness of breath
- Getting frequently affected by pneumonia, bronchitis &wheezing
- Stomach Problem Symtoms
- Pain in passing stool
- Blood in stool or black stool
- Change in bowel habits
- Uncontrollable bowel movements
- Constipation and diarrhea
- Heartburn
- Blood vomiting
- Bladder Problem Symptoms
- Painful and frequent urination
- Lost bladder control and leaking urine
- Blood in urine
- Wetting the bed or frequent urge to urinate at the night
- Muscle & Joint Problems Symptoms
- Persistent body ache and muscle pain
- Numbness and tingling in the muscles
- Pain and tenderness in muscles
- Stiffness and swelling in the joints
- Inflammation and redness of the joint areas
- Loss of joint and muscle motions
- MIgraine Pain Symptoms
- Sensitivity to light and sound
- Abdominal pain, and upset stomach
- Feeling very warm or chills
- Loss of appetite
- Feeling tired and blurred vision
- Pale skin color
