Although pain can be highly unpleasant it is of essential meaning for the human organism. Pain is part of the body’s protective system and acts as an alert signal. If pain occurs for the first time or lasts over a few days and if the reasons are unclear, a doctor should be consulted.

Pain occurs when stimuli such as mechanical injuries or heat and cold pass a certain threshold. Thereby pain substances – discharged by damaged cells – are realeased.

Acute pain such as backache or muscle and joint pain often arise from stresses and strains but also from colds. It can be a reaction to physical inactivity, false posture or too much or unfamiliar sporting activity. Acute pain sets in when the tissue has been damaged, e.g. after cuts, bruises, bone fractures, inflammations, burns or toothache. A signal of your body’s, this kind of pain is usually of limited duration.

Typically, a dull, pressing or dragging pain can be perceived within the entire head. Often this slight to moderate pain starts in the neck or behind the forehead. What usually triggers headache are internal and external factors such as stress, stifling air and constant false postures during sitting, lying or standing. Patients who suffer from chronic headache may have a lower pain threshold. Disorders in the pain control mechanisms can lead to headache as well.

Neuropathic pain is caused by damaged nerves and can be very sudden and intense.

This kind of pain occurs when pain receptors in the body are activated and convey the impulses to the central nervous system. The brain perceives these impulses as pain. If pain remains untreated the pain memory is sensitised so that the sensory threshold becomes decreased. As a result, the body reacts with pain to the smallest impulse.