Types of Pain

Pain can strike us all from time to time and is the body’s way of signalling that something is wrong. People feel pain when there is damage or injury to bodily tissues. The injured area reacts by releasing chemicals called prostaglandins, which amplify the pain signals to the brain and cause swelling and inflammation at the injured site.

There are three types of pain:

  • Acute pain – short term pain (e.g. headache or ankle sprain) that starts rapidly and lasts for a limited time
  • Chronic pain – long term or continuous pain (e.g. pain associated with the symptoms of arthritis) that is often managed by a GP
  • Recurrent pain – comes and goes (e.g. period pain)

Approximately 13% of the Irish population suffer pain almost daily* Click on the site of your pain to find out more and understand how Solpa Extra can help you get back on track.

*Survey of chronic pain in Europe: Prevalence, impact in daily life, and treatment. European Journal of Pain 10 (2006) 287-333

 

Headache and Migraine Pain

Headaches can take on a number of forms from a mild niggling pain in the head to a full blown migraine.

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Tooth Pain

Toothache can be caused by tooth decay which leads to an inflammation of the gums or irritation in the pulp or nerve of the tooth.

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Period pain

Period pain affects over half of women1 and is caused by the contraction of the womb, which is controlled by chemicals called prostaglandins which can cause pain.

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Back Pain

Back pain is usually a symptom of stress caused to the muscles, tendons or ligaments of the back caused by poor posture, bending incorrectly, twisting the back or lifting a heavy object.

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Muscle Pain

A strain is caused when a muscle, tendon or ligament has been overstretched or overused. A sprain is a more severe version of a strain.

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