Pain Management – Some of Us Are Just More Sensitive

There are many dynamics at play when it comes to experiencing pain.  They all determine how sensitive a person is, and while it may seem preferable to be able to tolerate pain more easily, it does come with some drawbacks. Anecdotally, there are people who can feel the acute pain of appendicitis and show little outward appearance of pain, while others would be writhing on the floor. While it may seem stoic to suffer in silence, as people who are less sensitive may do, it’s also important to seek treatment for pain – especially in serious cases like the one listed above.

Being aware of your pain tolerance levels can help you determine how urgent it is for you to get care when you start experiencing pain, or suffer from chronic ailments. You may not even realize how much pain you’re in until you receive treatment at our Chicago pain management center.

Genetics: In recent years, we’ve learned that our genes determine a lot about us. They are the precursors to certain illnesses; combined, they create our physical appearance, and it should come as no surprise that some may be genetically predetermined to be more sensitive to pain than others. There is some research that suggests there is an actual pain gene, but even if you aren’t affected by it, genetics may play a role in the way your nerves relay information – and therefore, how you experience pain.

Base-Pain Levels: If you experience chronic pain, it means that may have gotten used to it – at least a little, particularly if your ailment is evident through multiple symptoms. For example, someone with celiac disease may have digestive issues, headaches, joint pain, and skin rashes, especially if they aren’t living a gluten-free lifestyle. The intense pain in their intestines may override their headache, or their headache may be so chronic that they don’t even fully realize they have it anymore. Additionally, someone who experiences daily pain may notice a small pain coming from a new area, but may just chalk it up to their original illness or injury. When you live with chronic pain, it’s easier to overlook new or lesser sources. For this reason, it’s important to be mindful about your body, so you can seek treatment at our Chicago pain clinic, before it causes more issues.

Psychological Dynamics: No, the pain isn’t all in your head, but psychological issues like depression, anxiety, and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder can play a role in how you feel pain. Naturally, depression takes away those rose-colored glasses that people who aren’t experiencing depression walk around wearing. That means that any pain may feel magnified – more noticeable, and seemingly hopeless to treat. Someone with anxiety may worry that their pain is something worse than it is, and someone with OCD may ruminate over the pain.

There is hope, no matter your pain tolerance levels. Our Chicago pain clinic can work with you to find the core issue causing the pain, and help you create a plan that can relieve it, and also point you in the direction of therapeutic methods that can help you overcome your sensitivities.