HealthSouth Corporation Home Chronic pain is a major social and economic problem within our society that consumes numerous resources, affects millions of lives and is a major source of both physical and psychological disability. Just as today, pain has always played a prominent role in our society. It is interesting to look back and trace its role at different times in history.
Every civilization has records documenting pain and painful experiences.
Primitive man used such basic modalities as the cold of a stream, massage or pressure to control pain. There is evidence that he found relief by applying pressure along the pathways of nerves and veins, but didn't understand the anatomical reasons for its effectiveness. At one time, pain was even thought to be an evil spirit that might be scared away by the wearing of rings, claws or charms. With the advancement of religious beliefs, man's ideas changed to that of pain being inflicted by an offended god, thereby replacing the medicine man with a priest who relied on prayer. Shrines were built and sacrifices were made to appease the gods.