Pain an overview Causes

Causes of PAIN AN OVERVIEW

• There are two kinds of pain experienced based on its duration – Acute and Chronic pain¹

  Acute pain begins suddenly and is usually sharp. It serves as a warning of disease or a threat to the body. Acute pain might be caused due to many reasons, including:¹

  • Surgery
  • Broken bones
  • Dental work
  • Burns or cuts
  • Labor and childbirth

  Chronic pain persists for a long time despite the fact that the injury has healed. Pain signals keep firing in the nervous system for weeks, months & even years. There may be an ongoing cause of pain, such as arthritis or cancer. But in some cases there may be no clear cause.^1,3

  Problems that usually cause chronic pain include

  • Headache
  • Low back strain
  • Arthritis (swelling in joints)
  • Pain from nerve damage
  • Cancer

  According to Ayurveda, pain is attributed to Vatadosha and activities of Vata are mainly perceived through nerves. Thus any kind of Aghat or shock will sensitise the pain perception via nerves (Nadi sansthan).⁴ Ayurveda divides pain into categories depending upon the element (dosha: Vata, Pitta, Kapha) that caused them.⁵

  We have pain due to dryness and excessive air within the system, which is attributed to Vata dosha. This dry pain may appear extreme, come and go, travel throughout the body, feel like pins and needles, prickling pain or numbness.⁵

  We can have pain due to heat/fire/pitta dosha which may appear inflamed, red, burning, sharp, throbbing, and intense. ⁵

  We can also have pain which is due to excessive fluid accumulation/water/kapha dosha which may appear swollen, dull, achy, or as a heavy feeling in limbs/joints. ⁵