Claiming Multidimensionality of Pain: Introduction
Claiming Multidimensionality of Pain: Introduction
by Ma'ayan Simon
Pain—be it anatomical, emotional, social, spiritual—is no stranger to most people. Yet, despite the ubiquity of pain (or, perhaps, because of it), peoples' conceptions of pain often rely on inaccurate, outdated, or negatively biased information (Edwards 17, Thernstrom 289). Misinformation about pain (our own and others'), often accepted as "fact,” sows fertile grounds for assumptions, stigmas, judgments, misunderstandings and prejudices about pain and people in pain, especially when the word "chronic" is attached (Cohen et al. 1639, Edwards 11).Negative societal biases influence how communities treat people in pain, which affects how people in pain perceive themselves—all of which can gravely interfere with people in pain receiving due recognition and adequate care (Cohen et al. 1638, Thernstrom 149). Marginalization resulting from people being blamed, shamed, scrutinized and disbelieved causes secondary trauma (Cohen et al. 1639). In order to change how people in pain are perceived and advocate for chronic pain as a serious condition, it is essential that we establish a literacy of pain that puts multidimensionality at the center of the conversation.This 4-week blog series is intended to be an overview to introduce some basic concepts about the multidimensionality of pain. Before getting started, test your knowledge of pain. Answer true or false to the following:
- There is a single pain center in the brain
- Anatomical pain and emotional pain is processed in much the same way in the brain
- Depression is a form of chronic pain
- Chronic pain is acute pain that is persistent
- The mind and the body function separately
- Perception of pain functions in the same way regardless of "type" of pain (anatomical, emotional, social, spiritual)
- All people have the same level of pain sensitivity
- Chronic pain is its own disease process
- Pain sensitivity is set by predetermined factors and cannot change over a person’s life
- Predisposition to pain sensitivity is not a person’s choice
- If no "physical" rationale is apparent for a person's pain it is therefore "mental"
- Decreasing pain sensitivity is simply a matter of changing one’s perceptions
Don’t forget to write down your answers. Answers will be posted at the end of the series.
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