Topic: Pain ReliefPain Definition
Pain is an unpleasant feeling that is conveyed to the brain by sensory neurons. The discomfort
signals actual or potential injury to the body.
Perception gives information on the pain's location,
intensity, and something about its nature.
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Acute body pain
Pain arises from any number of situations. Injury is a major cause, but pain may also arise from an illness.
It may accompany a psychological condition, such as depression, or may even occur in the absence of a
recognizable trigger.
Acute pain often results from tissue damage, such as a skin burn or broken bone. Acute pain can also be
associated with headaches or muscle cramps. This type of pain usually goes away as the injury heals or
the cause of the pain (stimulus) is removed.
To understand acute pain, it is necessary to understand the nerves that support it. Nerve cells,
or neurons, perform many functions in the body. Although their general purpose, providing an interface
between the brain and the body, remains constant, their capabilities vary widely. Certain types of
neurons are capable of transmitting a pain signal
to the brain.
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