Pain in the back, in the head, in the legs… Pain is a major warning symptom of the human body. Where is she from ? How to calm her? What drugs or natural remedies? Advice by zones with Dr. Marc Perez, sports doctor and osteopath.
What is the definition of pain?
According to the official definition of the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP), “Pain is a unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage or described in such terms”. She is therefore subjective. It can be felt so more or less intense depending on the individual and their degree of sensitivity. Concretely, it is the result of a nociceptive (nervous) message transmitted to the brain by the peripheral nerves via the spinal cord. “Patients can be classified into one of three circles of pain”, explains Dr. Marc Perez, sports physician and osteopath:
- Vertebral pain.
- Dysfunction of the pain pathways (postural disorders, fibromyalgia, etc.).
- Psycho-functional disorders and psychosocial factors.
The pain depends on the feeling of each person. It is difficult if not impossible to quantify it. Nevertheless, it is more and more frequent with age and the vast majority of elderly people are affected.
Duration of pain
Pain is usually divided into two categories based on its duration:
► the sharp pain, intense but often brief, it is considered here as a symptom.
► the so-called chronic pain or pathological, when the painful sensation exceeds three months and becomes recurrent. It is considered a disease in its own right. Chronic pain concerns 15 to 25% of the population. Initially it was a sharp pain, which did not go away over time. After a certain period, if this pain persists, it will be perceived by the patient as definitive, even if he knows it is potentially curable. He will therefore adapt his attitude to this pain.
Forms of pain
Three forms of chronic pain can be distinguished according to their physiological mechanisms:
► inflammatory pain which include all the pain associated with phenomena of inflammation (lesions, osteoarthritis, etc.). This is the case, for example, when you sprain yourself: the first pain, at the time of the accident, is dazzling and acute. Then in the hours that follow, there is swelling and the pain becomes duller but still remains present: this is inflammatory pain. It is very useful in the sense that this heightened sensitivity serves as a sort of safeguard. It prevents the patient from making movements that would delay his healing. It is a protective pain.
► neuropathic pain associated with damage to the central and peripheral nervous system (injury to the spinal cord, sciatic nerve, etc.)
► cancer pain which often combine an inflammatory and neuropathic component.
“All of them have a strong impact on the psyche, but there is also the moral pain depression and all other psychiatric illnesses” nuance Dr. Marc Perez.
Back pain
Headache
Other painful body parts
What are the pain treatments?
Pain treatment varies depending on the type of pain and the intensity. It is done in stages.
Tier 1: paracetamol or NSAIDs (Nifluril®, Ibuprofene®, Diclofenac®). THE paracetamol is very interesting because it has no particular side effect. It is very commonly used to treat, among other things, simple headaches. However, be careful not to exceed the maximum dose of 3 to 4 grams per day. For certain larger doses, it can prove fatal, as it leads to the destruction of the liver. For NSAIDs, une of the best known and most unpleasant side effects is the stomach pain they can cause. It is advisable to take them in the middle of a meal and never swallow them without food, but this is not always enough to avoid trouble.
Level 2 : paracetamol + codeine or tramadol or opium powder.
Level 3 : morphine.
Natural treatments : “There are different natural treatments for pain. Starting with plants in capsules or buds macerates: harpagophytum, nettle, evening primrose or the magic of twilight, blackcurrant, birch sap. As for essential oils, on a base of sweet almond oil, we add wintergreen or peppermint” explains Dr. Marc Perez.
Massage : “There are also physical treatments with massages, mobilizations, manipulations or even electrotherapy.”
Other Tips
Thanks to Dr. Marc Perez, sports doctor and osteopath. Comments collected in 2019.