I once heard an old Buddhist saying that goes like this: “Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional.”
The reality is that one could not survive without pain. It is the body’s warning system. The key question is: how much pain is acceptable? That is a question I am asked often. The truth is, not all pain is harmful.
Using a numerical pain scale from 1 to 10, I break it down as follows:
- Pain from 1–4 is a green light to proceed.
- Pain from 5–7 is a yellow light. Proceed with caution.
- Pain at 8/10 or higher is a red light, a signal to stop immediately.
When we as therapists prescribe home exercises for patients, as we always do, we use the pain scale as a guide. We also talk about the quality of pain. If the pain is dull and feels more like soreness or an ache, it is generally okay to proceed. If the pain is sharp or knife-like, it is an immediate stop.
What happens to your body when pain is experienced?
First, the pupils dilate, heart rate and breathing increase, sweating occurs, glucose levels rise, intestinal movement decreases, and muscle tension increases. This is the body’s fight-or-flight response.
So how do we approach pain?
First, we do not make light of the pain or the circumstances that brought you to us. We try to educate you, just as I am doing in this video, and we usually inject a little tasteful humor, or what I like to call “laughter medicine,” because humor heals too. Believe it or not, laughter causes your body to release endorphins and enkephalins, Mother Nature’s natural painkillers.
In an experimental Oxford study, people watching funny videos or stage shows improved their pain tolerance by 30% compared to those watching a boring documentary, who experienced no change.
In therapy, our primary focus is self-management of pain. Some people living with pain choose to make lifestyle changes to cope, such as taking more frequent rest breaks, self-limiting activities, or wearing a supportive brace.
You can still be healthy and live a meaningful life despite chronic pain.
What is needed is a shift in focus, where we stop dwelling on the painful sensation. Movement is critical. Like I always say, “Motion is lotion.” Keep yourself busy with activities that bring you joy and laughter.
In the words of Helen Keller: “The world is full of suffering, but it is also full of the overcoming of it.