Where Does Pain Come From?

It is a mistaken impression by most people that pain originates from the muscles. Understandable, as this is where pain is usually felt.

But this is only part of story...

In actuality, only about 20% of pain comes from muscle tension.

Most pain is experienced due to misalignment of the joints – 40% -- and the swelling caused by this – 40%.

So when your back is sore and the muscles are in spasm, the main source of pain will be found in the joints and the swelling around these joints.

What’s happening is, because the joints have gone out of alignment, the muscles will tighten up and act like a ‘splint’ to keep the sore joint from moving.

One of the ways to confirm this is to look at what happens when you receive a massage. If you have muscle tension when you go to the massage therapist, they’ll massage out the tension in the muscle -- but it just comes right back in the next day or so.

Yes they’ve relaxed the muscle. But unfortunately, that wasn’t the cause of the problems. The problem was the underlying pain in the joint -- and then the muscles just tighten right back up again to keep that joint from moving.

Now the percentages are not quite accurate – it’s more like 38% joint, 38% swelling and 25% muscle. But forty, forty, and twenty is what I tell my patients as it’s easier to remember.

Which is best -- Ice or Heat?

There seems to be a constant battle raging when it comes to the use of ice or heat for pain. But the answer lies in the cause of that pain.

Because forty percent of the pain comes from the swelling and only twenty percent comes from the muscle tension – heat will only provide temporary relief.

People say to me, "That’s true, you know, when I put the heat on, it only feels good for about two hours and then the pain comes right back."

And then when I switch them to ice, they say, "You know what? When I put the ice on, the pain relief is much longer."

Why?

Because now you’re targeting forty percent of the pain – Instead of twenty percent of the pain.

In the past I’ve worked with many different sporting teams -- like the London Majors and the London City Soccer Team. I would always keep a tube of ‘Deep Cold’ rub on hand. It’s like a menthol balm.

Actually, in technical terms it’s called a counter-irritant. I suppose it’s kind of like fighting fire with fire -- using something that irritates a little bit. There’s more to it than just that of course – but that’s what I was taught twenty-five years ago. Research has now shown that it reduces inflammation as the menthol soaks in through the skin. It reduces swelling.

So next time you injure yourself playing sport – and it feels as though your muscles are going to explode – know that it’s probably your joints that are the problem...

And reach for the ice-pack!

Contact Dr Millar today

If you found this informative – it is suggested you read ' What is a sprain?'

Back to Millar Sports Home Page

Patient Reviews:

"After a couple of treatments I noticed it getting progressively better. I was able to do more activity. Near the end of my treatments – which lasted not even 3 months – I was basically pain-free.

This was no quick fix either. There’s been no reoccurrences whatsoever, and the exercises and stretches I was given ensure this.

I’ve had no reason to receive further treatments (I’m the kind of guy who only goes to the doctor when there’s something seriously wrong), but if there’s ever a problem in the future I know where I’m going to go."

Murray MacFarlane – Corrections officer

"I was very comfortable with the procedure. If anything became too painful all I had to do was speak up and the level of adjustment was changed to suit."

Andrew Woegerer – University student and Varsity team swimmer

"When you’re in pain your muscles get tense. Once you start to tense up, it pulls on the joints and everything gets tighter and tighter. If you can loosen up those muscles and relieve the strain on the joints, the pain goes away and you see an improvement.

At one point in my life I had a toddler and was also pregnant – which was a struggle on it’s own. The pain was so bad the only thing I could do was lay down on the couch and watch television with my child. I didn’t like doing it, but as a stay at home Mom you do what you’ve gotta do.

To tell you the truth I was afraid --afraid that I would lose the ability to keep myself upright. One of the reasons I kept getting the adjustments – even though they hurt – was because I was afraid I would fall down."

Rebekah Voege – Stay at home mother with 2 children