pain: 1. physical suffering or distress, as due to injury, illness, etc.2. a distressing sensation in a particular part of the body: a back pain.
As a Licensed Massage Therapist, I hear about pain all the time.
There are all kinds of pain, chronic and acute. Pain in the neck, pain in the back, pain in the heart, pain off the chart.
Some pain can’t be identified with any particular organ, bone or limb, as in the case of Fibromyalgia Syndrome. Other forms of pain arise when we are in action. Some folks have pain when they move, pain when they breathe, pain when they sit, stand, bend or walk. Pain can certainly make itself at home in our everyday experience.
Every body is different. We each have our own pains. Typically, the word “pain” reminds us of our own physical hurts. But it’s important to remember that besides the physical there are other ways we may suffer in the forms of mental, emotional and spiritual dis-ease.
Also, unique to our own personal experience, we each perceive pain differently and for different reasons.
Two people may have the very same physical injury and yet both of them may have tremendously different results. A similar accident may render one individual physically challenged for the rest of their life while another may suffer no real effects. There will be various outcomes based on the injury’s impact, as well as the age and overall health of each person.
Many layers make up our wholeness. Living an inspired life, in spirit, has the effect of strengthening our whole self. Being encouraging supports ourself and all those around us. It’s also important not to underestimate the power of intellect. Perhaps we’ve all witnessed the physical regeneration of a person with great mental dexterity and force of will. Flexing the muscle of our mind has the ability to shore up all aspects of our self.
Ultimately, pain is a warning sign, a wake up call. For all the ways we can feel pain, there are as many ways to learn from the pain.
Often pain signals speak to us through our body, so it’s very important we pay close attention to our bodies many messages. Where we feel pain informs us better how to relieve it or at the very least, whom to most effectively facilitate our healing; as in the case of a running injury being best addressed by a sports therapist.
In most cases, it simply requires listening to what causes us pain and altering our movements, behaviours or food and drink choices. In fact, of all the major illnesses people suffer in this country, behaviour modification can alter the course and quality of our health along the way. For example, some instances of diabetes have even been averted based on healthy changes in diet and exercise.
Even if you are experiencing pain and illness, your healthy thoughts and choices go a long way towards increasing the quality of your day-to-day life. Surely, being aware of how and where we hurt begins the process of bringing relief to ourselves.
It’s important to remember that pain is not meant to make us miserable, it’s meant to enlighten us and provide information.
It is my hope that you can identify what ails you enough to seek out the appropriate assistance you need most. One thing I’m sure of, just being in touch with yourself and how you feel provides a great deal of relief and peace of mind, bringing you that much closer to what you need to feel better.
Good Health To You,
Lynn Van Noy, LMT CH
Send questions and comments to lynnvannoy@gmail.com or visit http://www.lynnvannoy.com
The information in this column is not intended as medical advice. Its intention is solely informational and educational.
LYNN VAN NOY 
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