Understanding Pain

Pain is both an excellent deterrent and an excellent motivator. In other words, if something causes us pain we will avoid it, and if it does hurt we want to figure out why and how to get rid of the pain. Pain acts like our body’s “check engine light” and the body’s way of letting you know that something needs your attention. It doesn't necessarily mean something is wrong but the source of the pain, or “pain generator” must be found.

Common Sources of Pain:

The most common sources of pain is due to inflammation in joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments and nerves. Fun fact, a tendon is a piece of connective tissue that connects a bone to a muscle, whereas a ligament is connective tissue that connects bone to bone. Of those 5 areas we must identify which of those is generating the pain. Typically it is a combination of a few different sources, and the symptoms (or the things you feel) overlap each other. For example, if a person's neck hurts they may feel the pain/symptom in their shoulder blade. And in this case the pain is usually due to 1. referred pain from the joints in the neck, 2. tight or knotted muscles. Another fun fact is that inflammation of the nerves of the spine can cause knots to form in muscles. This combination causes the pain/symptoms to overlap. Making a neck problem feel like a muscle. That is because it is partially a muscle problem, but not entirely.

How To Get Rid of Pain:

In order to get rid of pain we must determine the problem. Then, create a plan of action on how to help the problem. Whether it be neck pain, back pain, shoulder pain etc. The game plan should include treatments that address the cause of what you're feeling. Adjustments directly help the joints and nerves, and massage therapy and physical therapy help the muscles. The plan of action needs to be unique, tailored, and customized to fit your own goals. Whether those goals are to gain better mobility or simply live your life pain free.

Be healthy and well,

-Dr. Redman