Pain

What Is Pain? We all experience pain differently, what may seem OK to me, could mean a quite a bit to someone else. Pain represents differently in all of us and can quite often have a negative affect on our emotional and mental wellbeing. It is important to consider that pain does effect people differently and to be ok with that.

There are three main categories of pain: acute, chronic and cancer pain.

Acute pain lasts for a short time and occurs following surgery or trauma or other condition. It acts as a warning to the body to seek help.

Chronic pain lasts beyond the time expected for healing following surgery, trauma, or other conditions. It can also exist without a clear reason at all.

Cancer pain can occur in patients with early stage and advanced disease, pain can be a severe and debilitating side effect of cancer treatment.

How does this affect me?

Pain may not affect you but it is important to remember that pain can manifest in many ways; dismissing the pain of others, no matter how minor it may seem to you, is not going to make anyone feel any better. For those who may be suffering with pain, it is important to know that the earlier treatment is sought, the more likely the condition will improve, your pain will not usually just ‘go away’. The most effective treatment for almost every form of chronic pain is multidisciplinary pain management combined with self-management techniques. As well as traditional pharmacological options for the treatment of pain, there are a range of other holistic avenues worth exploring that might not have been available or you may not have previously considered. It is worth asking, call the GP clinic to make an appointment. Chronic pain does not have to go untreated, nor should we become complacent with our pain management.

St The next St John Skill Drill will be held Tuesday, January 21, at the shed on Grassy Road, 18:30 start for 20:00 finish.

If you have thought of becoming a St John volunteer or, for more information, please email norfolk.island@stjohnnsw.com.au or james.garden@stjohnnsw.com.au