Pain – Friend or Foe?
By Dr Sanien de Beer
Pain is not a foreign concept. Most people experienced it at some
stage in their lives. Pain can take on different characteristics and
patterns and can be due to a variety of reasons. It can be caused
by an acute illness, injury or a chronic condition. It can vary from
being a fleeting awareness of discomfort to a debilitating stabbing
sensation. Pain can be acute or chronic and caused by known or
unknown reasons. Some people have a very high tolerance to pain –
which can almost be more dangerous than the pain itself.
Pain seldom occurs in isolation – it often brings with it a host of other symptoms. It also has an emotional impact, which is worth exploring;
however it certainly is not always “in your head”!
This leads to the question of “what is this pain about?” If your pain
had a voice, what would it say or shout or scream or whisper…
and will you take the time to listen, or just numb it with more and
stronger painkillers?
The body uses pain to communicate. Although not the most pleasant communication medium, it is one that certainly will get your attention.
Pain causes an array of physiological and pathological responses in
the body. This involves neuro transmitters, enzymes, receptors,
muscles and nerves, to name a few. New types of allopathic pain
medication - is constantly being developed in an attempt to “arrest” pain.
It is essential to find the cause of the pain and not just treat it as a
symptom. If the cause is addressed, this symptom is likely to improve.
If it is pain due to muscle strain it may be helpful to look at the alignment
of your body and identify movement patterns or postural deviations
which can cause the pain. In such an instance a movement specialist or Osteopath may assist.
If pain is due to a chronic or degenerative condition e.g. arthritis, it may
be helpful to consider lifestyle factors which have an influence on pain.
Dietary adaptations and including food with natural anti inflammatory properties in your diet, may make a significant difference. Adequate
fluid intake also plays an important role. A Nutritionist can provide
valuable and practical advice.
Through the centuries herbs in many different forms have been used
for pain relief. The pain relieving properties of medicinal plants are well documented. This does however not imply that all plants are safe to
use as pain ‘muthi’ and the assistance of a Phytotherapist who
specializes in the clinical use of medicinal plants, is recommended.
Sometimes pain can be due to an accumulation of trauma – both on a physiological and psychological level. Repetitive injuries make one
wary of movement – yet immobility can often increase pain.
The influence of the mind-body connection should not be
under- estimated. This has been highlighted with techniques as
TRE – trauma releasing exercise - which is a gentle yet powerful
and safe way to release accumulated trauma which is stored in
the body.Acupuncture, massage and movement therapies are other alternatives to consider silencing the voice of pain. These modalities
not only address the symptom but provide an opportunity to look at
some of the potential underlying causes.
At Mayfair Wellness many of these modalities are available under one
roof and the synergy of different approaches to pain management
prove more efficient than using a single approach.
In finding helpful ways to understand the communication system of
your body, more effective pain management strategies can be used.
When looking at pain as being the “Master of Ceremonies” of many
activities in the body, and responding to it appropriately instead of just silencing it, it can indeed be your friend and not your foe.
