Among other things, pain is a great mystery. It is difficult to describe one’s own pain. It is impossible to know someone else’s pain. Although many attempts are made to rate pain, it is impossible to measure. What may seem extremely painful to one individual, may not seem intense at all to another, and visa versa. Yet this evasive, somewhat intangible entity receives so much attention. Billions of dollars are spent yearly to relieve it, and the practice of pain management is becoming more prevalent all the time.
If we want to understand the cause of pain, let us first take a closer look of what pain actually is.
Pain is not a disease or disorder. Pain is a normal part of life. It is normal because it has a useful purpose. Therefore it stands to reason that it may not be wise to simply eliminate a normal function.
It is more appropriate to try to determine the cause of pain, and why pain has surfaced. Pain is a useful tool which makes us aware of a problem. Problems should be addressed and resolved. The goal then, is not to simply eliminate pain when it arises, but to resolve the problem that it results from. If we simply eliminate pain, the underlying cause is likely to continue.
So what is the cause of pain?
In general, problems arise from disorder. So to ultimately get to the root of a problem which is causing pain, we must give attention to the reality of order. The universe, the world, a school of fish, our city, our family, and our individual body all require order to operate as they should. When anything operates in a disorderly fashion, it produces a degree of chaos.
For example, every planet in our solar system must maintain its specific path of orbit. If a planet was to deviate from this path it would not only disrupt its own fate, but also would cause chaos to disrupt in the entire solar system. Proper order is essential for anything to operate in harmony. All parts must cooperate with the other parts for harmony to exist. This is order.
When something causes disorder in our body (stress, strains, injuries, or traumas for example), it causes a disturbance in the normal order of one part. This in turn makes not only that part dysfunctional, but also the whole body which depends on that part. To experience anything operating in an orderly fashion, it is typically a pleasant experience. If there is disorder and chaos, this will cause pain and dysfunction.
How to treat pain
Interestingly enough, at Pain Resolution Institute, we do not actually treat ‘pain.’ Because pain is only a symptom of a greater problem, we must address the cause. This is drastically different from many other approaches because we address the cause of pain. This starts with our unique hands on treatment which is based on sound scientific principles.