Pain is a complex subject and related to many factors.

According to Dr. Ronald Melzack, well-known specialist in understanding pain and its treatment, he indicates that there is a “pain gate” in our spinal cord. Pain signals travel from painful region of our body to our brain through our spinal cord then different messages will come back from brain thru the spinal cord to painful region and tells that region to tighten the muscles, reduce movement and producing different chemicals. All these are to reduce the pain and increase the healing which not always works.

In summary one of the factor that can open or close this “pain gate” is person’s emotion and thoughts. As far as the emotion, if person is unhappy, depressed, stressed or anxious this would open the gate and in result more pain signals go to brain and person will feel the pain. On the opposite if you are happy and not anxious, this gate is closed and there is less or no pain. Thoughts also have an important role in our pain perception. More you focus on painful place more the pain sensation is felt due to transmission of pain signals to our brain.

In fact psychological health is the answer to many of our physical and medical problems including pain management. So if you suffer form long-term chronic pain, then you should consider “psychological pain management” with specialist psychologist in this area.

I have treated many patients in the past with chronic pain whom could not get relief from different forms of medical, and or TCM treatments. Psychological pain management can reduce the pain perception in certain cases of chronic pain.

Wish you all pain free and get your pain treated naturally without using many pain killer medicines, which can harm your health specially if over used.

Take care

Dr.Mike