The disturbed nervous system sends pain signals to the brain even when there is no other ongoing tissue damage. Neuropathic pain is often experienced as tingling, aching, or burning and can last for months or years. One example of this type of pain is phantom limb pain, when a person who has had an arm or leg removed still experiences pain as if it were coming from the missing limb. Some patients have chronic pain, and doctors cannot pinpoint the source. All types of pain are subjective and can be measured and reported only by the person experiencing it.
All types of pain are real and can be treated.
Many factors influence the experience of pain, including the mechanisms in the body that are sustaining the pain, the meaning of the pain, and psychological factors, such as individual coping styles and emotional support. Pain can be treated safely and effectively. There are many types of treatments for pain, including medication and non-drug treatments. It is important to treat pain. Unrelieved pain brings unnecessary suffering.