Pain is really complex isn’t it?! The conceptual change in thinking from ‘pain means damage’ to ‘pain means danger’ to ‘pain means protection’ represents huge scientific advancement. Sometimes nociception gets confused as the sending of ‘pain signals’. It sounds like a fussy distinction to call them ‘danger signals’ instead, but it is really important. Pain is an experience that results after the brain has processed the nociceptive (danger/warning) information, along with lots of other information. For more information on this distinction, check out the book ‘Explain Pain’ by David Butler and Lorimer Moseley.

Researchers are improving understanding of mechanisms behind the persistence of pain. To dig deeper, why not have a read about central sensitization, mirror neurons, the placebo affect and nocebos?

To extend your understanding about the complexity of pain, watch this video about the map in your brain.

If you are a health professional, you may like to have a read of Explain Pain Supercharged – this resource contains up-to-date science about understanding pain and the practicalities of teaching people about it.

Next Section »