The "Big Picture" of Pain

One myth about pain is that it's only a physical problem. In fact, many different factors affect how a person feels pain. We call this the "bigger picture" of pain. Doctors and scientists call this the “bio-psycho-social” model of pain.

The bio-psycho-social model includes biological factors – such as a physical injury to the body or a tumor pressing on a nerve; psychological factors – such emotions and thoughts about pain; and social factors including relationships with others. Whatever you call it, the idea is that many parts of a person's life affect how they experience pain. We've included some examples below:

Physical

Of course, there are the physical causes of pain, and physical reasons that a pain may get worse, including:

Growth of tumor

Infection

Nerve damage

Surgery or complications with treatment

Swelling or inflammation

Here are some physical reasons that pain may get better:

Tumors shrinking because of treatment

Wound healing

Pain medications

Massage or other treatments to reduce muscle tension

Thoughts / Your Mind

It’s also important to consider how we think about pain. Some types of thinking can make pain feel more severe and can make a person feel more limited by their pain. Other types of thinking can improve pain and help a person cope with it better.

Paying too much attention to pain can make you feel more limited by your pain, and can make the pain feel worse

Memories of being in pain can make pain feel worse

Emotional

Emotions also influence our pain. This means that negative emotions like sadness, anxiety, fear, and anger can all make pain feel more intense.

The opposite is also true. Positive emotions like happiness, humor, or peace can make pain feel better. These different feelings are all normal parts of life. It’s not about avoiding the emotions but instead trying to find ways to cope with them in the moment.

For specific tips, read these articles:

Feelings that make pain worse:

Feelings that make pain better:

Actions

Actions you take to respond to the pain can also affect how you feel.

Stretching or rubbing the area that hurts
Guarding yourself from moving parts of your body that hurt
Being more or less active than usual
Resting more or less than usual
Avoiding activities you enjoy or love

Social

It’s hard to spend time with other people when pain is severe. However, research has shown that staying connected to people you care about, and staying engaged in activities you value can help with your pain.

Spending time with others can lift your spirits, which helps with pain. Getting support from others can make you feel less alone, and help you think of ways to cope with your pain. Staying connected with your community can also help you be more active, which tends to help pain.