Pain is real, personal, and more complex than it looks.
A first step toward understanding yours.
Why does it hurt? Almost everyone has asked that question, whether over a twisted ankle, a stiff neck that will not let go, or an ache that seems to have no clear cause at all.
Pain is one of the most universal human experiences, and one of the most misunderstood. In 2023, nearly 1 in 4 U.S. adults lived with chronic pain, and for about 1 in 12, it regularly limited their work or daily life.1
This four-part series is about understanding pain. Here, we start with what it is and the myths that keep people from getting care. Part 2 explores the most common types of pain, Part 3 offers a whole-person toolkit for managing it, and Part 4 is about speaking up so your pain is heard. Because understanding your pain is the first step toward easing it.
More than a physical sensation.
At its simplest, pain is a protective signal. It tells us something needs attention, so we stop, rest, and take care of ourselves. Without it, we could hurt ourselves further without even knowing.
But pain is never only physical. It is shaped by the body, the mind, and the life around us: our stress, sleep, mood, memories, and support. That is why two people with the same injury can experience it very differently, and why pain is always personal.
One of the most useful distinctions is time. Acute pain comes on suddenly, often after an injury or illness, and eases as the body heals. Chronic pain lingers, lasting three months or longer, sometimes well after the original cause has healed.1 We explore these and other types in Part 2.
The beliefs that keep us from care.
Misconceptions about pain can be just as limiting as the pain itself. These three come up again and again.
“Pain is just part of getting older.”
Aches can become more common with age, but that does not mean they should be ignored or simply endured. Accepting pain as inevitable can mean waiting too long to find relief, and missing a cause that could be cared for.
“Pain is a sign of weakness.”
This belief runs deep in many families and cultures, and it keeps many people silent. Acknowledging pain and asking for support, whether medical, emotional, or practical, is not weakness. It is strength, and it is self-care.
“It’s all in your head.”
Some pain has no visible cause on a scan, as with fibromyalgia or complex regional pain syndrome, but that does not make it any less real. Research suggests that long-lasting pain can change how the nervous system processes signals, which is part of why chronic pain can persist. Pain that is felt is pain that deserves care.
Naming your pain
A note on care
is the first step toward easing it.
Five questions to ask yourself.
Jot down your answers. They will help you choose the right care and describe your pain clearly to a healthcare provider, something we return to in Part 4.
Where is it? One spot, a wide area, or does it travel, say from your back down your leg?
What does it feel like? Sharp, dull, throbbing, burning, tingling, or aching?
When did it start? After an injury or activity, or gradually without a clear reason?
What changes it? Notice what makes it better or worse: rest, movement, heat, cold, time of day.
How is it affecting your life? Your sleep, mood, energy, work, and the things you love to do.
Up next: understanding your pain.
In Part 2, we look at the five most common types of pain: acute, chronic, nociceptive, neuropathic, and radicular. You will learn what each can feel like and the natural and medical care that tends to help.
Until then, listen to your body. It is telling you something worth hearing.
Understand it.
Then care for it.
Sources & further reading
Data informing this article:
- CDC, National Center for Health Statistics. Chronic Pain and High-impact Chronic Pain in U.S. Adults, 2023.
