Low pain threshold is a condition of a person in which he experiences severe pain even with weak the influence of external factors. Such people have an aggravated pain condition. A person with a high pain threshold, on the other hand, does not experience pain even with the maximum effect on the pain centers of touch. This condition is not a pathology.
Painful sensations can occur not only inside the body, but also outside (negative effects on the skin or mucous membranes). These are specific "sensors" that are able to perceive pain sensations. If you constantly influence these zones, they "get used" to the pain, which means that the pain threshold will be increased.
Record content:
- 1 Causes
- 2 Reduction types
- 3 Diagnostics
- 4 When to see a doctor
- 5 How to raise
- 6 What you don't need to do
- 7 Prevention and treatment methods
- 8 Possible complications
- 9 Pain threshold video
Causes
For a long time, science did not show interest in increased pain sensitivity. Doctors believed that this directly depends on the emotional regime of the body and its certain subtleties.
But, delving deeper into the research, scientists realized that this problem is at the genetic level and everything is much more serious than the simple "mood" of a person. Any physical or psychological negative state of a person can affect the pain threshold.
A low pain threshold is a feeling of severe pain in the human body with little effect on the skin. The so-called sensory neurons (nociceptors) are located in the internal organs and skin of a person. Their activation occurs when a painful stimulus is tensioned, which can in any way damage or disrupt various human tissues.
The level of pain threshold directly depends on the condition and functionality of the nerve endings. As a rule, the formation of the level of pain threshold occurs at the level of genes, but it can be increased depending on the standard of living, general health, living and working conditions.
Clinical experts have found that certain genes in DNA directly affect the sensitivity of nerve endings.
As a rule, women are much more emotional than men, respectively, their pain is much higher. According to experts, this is due to the fact that a woman's body is able to secrete much less endorphins than a man's.
Endorphins are a kind of "pain reliever" in the human body. But here, too, there are some nuances: it has been officially proven that during the birth of a child, the female pain threshold increases significantly. Consequently, any experience and negativity is reflected in the level of pain.
Factors affecting the level of pain threshold:
- The level of environmental pollution.
- Problems at the genetic level.
- Bad habits.
Direct factors that can affect the level of pain threshold:
- Bad sleep.
- Improper diet.
- Hormonal imbalance.
- A certain time of day.
- Eating specific foods.
- Weakened immunity.
- High blood pressure.
Low nociceptor sensation can also be associated with:
- Certain diseases of the nervous system.
- Sedentary lifestyle.
- Minor physical activity.
- Mental fatigue.
Feelings of loneliness in a person also lower their pain threshold. It is necessary to be a socially adapted person in order to increase the level of "protection" of the body.
Reduction types
A low pain threshold is not a pathology that needs urgent treatment.
There are specific types of impaired perception:
| A type | Description |
| "Mermaid" | The person's ability to tolerate pain remains, but the level of perception remains low. |
| "The Steadfast Tin Soldier" | Highest sensitive threshold. |
| "Princess on the Pea" | Very low pain level. A person is practically unable to endure any painful sensations. |
| "Sleeping Beauty" | Human skin is not at all susceptible to tissue damage only under certain factors (treatment with special anesthetic drugs, sedatives or psychotropics. |
Also, experts are convinced that people can only be divided into two categories: "Mermaids" and "Impatient". The first type is associated with high pain tolerance. Such people can endure painful sensations for a long time. The optimal tactics of life for such people is moral preparation and the correct psychological attitude until the moment when painful sensations come.
The second category of people is characterized by a very weak interval of pain tolerance. As a rule, even a small bump or scratch can cause panic or tears. Any surgical intervention and even the most common procedures for such people are required to be done at least under the influence of local anesthesia.
Diagnostics
It is the neurologist's job to diagnose and treat low pain thresholds. In order to give an accurate assessment and choose the right treatment, an algesimeter is used. For this, the endings of the limbs that are most sensitive to pain are selected.
Typically, these are the spaces between the fingers or toes. The irritant can be different: electricity, hot or cold water, strong pressure. After carrying out all the necessary operations, the neurologist prescribes a specific treatment.
There are cases when a decrease in the pain threshold is caused by diseases of the brain or spinal cord, as well as peripheral nerve trunks.
In such situations, the doctor can apply specialized programs, such as:
- MRI.
- X-ray of the spine.
- Scanning of the cervical and head vessels using ultrasound.
- Electrical myography.
A low pain threshold is a serious reason to undergo the necessary diagnostics and start specialized treatment, the prices of which start from 6,000 in Moscow. In Moscow, a number of clinics are engaged in these studies, known under the general name - CMR.
When to see a doctor
If a person experiences a sensation of severe pain even when exposed to insignificant external factors, this is a reason for an appointment with a neurologist. Ignoring or fear of visiting a doctor can lead to negative consequences for the body.
The low pain threshold is especially pronounced in patients of a dentist. Many people, even in adulthood, are afraid to go to him for fear of unbearable pain. The consequences can be quite serious - gumboil, suppuration or inflammation of the gums.
How to raise
Any strong blow to the body or injection undoubtedly causes pain, which makes life seem worse to a person, but there are ways to eliminate this problem. The main factor is not to dwell on your problems and negative emotions.
If a person lives in constant tension, then negative feelings will affect the susceptibility, which can make the pain even stronger. "Experienced" people in this business try to live in complete harmony with their bodies and get extremely positive feelings.
You can increase the pain threshold on your own experience. This factor is due to addiction to pain. For example, if a person in southern countries is used to walking with his bare feet on hot sand, then an unaccustomed person will not be able to hold out for a minute on such a surface. Also, pain depends on expectation.
That is, if a person is ready for severe pain, he will feel unpleasant sensations in full. If you independently convince yourself that the process will be painless, the pain will be much less. It depends on the initial "attitude".
Another effective way is to do sports related to aerobics. For this, a number of experiments were carried out. The volunteers were divided into two teams. The first 42 days in a row went in for sports - intense cycling.
The second group was engaged in power loads and walks. After 6 weeks of the experiment, the scientists again assessed pain thresholds in people from both groups. It was evident that the pain threshold was significantly increased for the cyclists. They did not stop feeling pain, but it was perceived by them at a lower level.
To increase the sensitivity to pain, specific carpets with needles are also used. You need to lie down on them with your back or stand up with your feet. Over time, the human body will get used to these sensations, and accordingly, the pain threshold will increase.
Medicine and traditional methods have found ways to increase the pain threshold. They are united by one circumstance - "playing on the nerves." In other words, if a person constantly experiences negative sensations on the nerve endings, over time, the usual pain will dull.
If you have any painful sensations, you need to contact a specialist. But there are also independent methods of conservative treatment.
- Switching attention. Psychologists recommend that the patient imagine that his whole body is a keyboard. It is necessary to stop the choice on the "button" responsible for pain. When the pain becomes unbearable, you need to "hold down" the key.
- "Anesthetic drug" stored in a person's head. To increase pain sensitivity to external mechanical influences, it is required to visualize pain, that is, to imagine that it is a specific object. Example: a person imagined that pain is a soccer ball and after each squeezing a person needs to restore its "original" shape.
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Improvements in the external environment. If positive emotions prevail in the “patient”, there will be less room for pain in the body. There are problems that cannot be solved by any method, but low pain threshold is not one of them. Both folk remedies and scientific medicine were able to find special methods that could "temper" a person from his low pain perception.
There are specific exercises that can increase a person's pain sensitivity. However, they will not be of any use if the patient does not conquer the fear in his subconscious. It is very important to feel calm and confident, as well as to face annoying factors with positive emotions.
The following tricks will help reduce the pain threshold:
- High intensity massage. This requires the specialist to press on the human body with great force. This procedure is carried out for about 10 minutes, until the pain becomes unbearable. After that, the massage stops.
- Slap treatment. A person can give them to himself and himself, but it is better to ask someone from relatives or friends about it. This is required in order not to reduce strength out of self-pity.
- Definite sparring. The “doctor” needs to deliver strong blows to the body of the “patient” (but not to the pain points), and the “patient” needs to endure them. You need to keep calm, not reacting to physical influences.
- Scream. This method is able to relieve stress very well and make you feel more relaxed. After this type of "discharge" the person will feel calmer, and the attention directed to pain will become less.
Pain sensitivity today can be corrected with the right treatment. The treatment course can be selected by such specialists as a neurologist, endocrinologist, therapist. Treatment does not require surgical intervention, it consists in proper nutrition, a properly selected psychological course or the appointment of special drugs.
When low pain sensitivity is detected, doctors prescribe sedatives and pain relievers to patients drugs in order to normalize the nervous system, calm down and completely pull yourself together. To increase the pain threshold of the skin, certain products are needed that produce the so-called "hormones of happiness", namely, serotonin and endorphin.
Experts have identified products that contribute to their development:
- Egg products.
- Ginger.
- Mustard.
- Strawberries or jam from them.
- Horseradish.
- Various types of nuts.
- Dairy.
- Bananas.
- Poultry (not fatty).
There are cases when the pain threshold was increased by such external factors as sexual arousal or feelings of anger. Also, positive effects can cause: relaxation, group or private sessions with a psychiatrist, positive emotions, good sleep, meditation and physical activity (moderate).
In situations where a decrease in the pain threshold is caused by serious diseases of the nervous system and the above methods do not bring any result, specialists carry out surgery affecting the spinal or head brain.
What you don't need to do
A person experiences a certain fear when he is in pain at a time when there should be no pain. Such people become more receptive to everything. For this reason, such "patients" need to control themselves and control their emotions, and not panic, which will only worsen the situation.
Also, experts recommend not to endure very high pain during training. Such an activity will not bring any benefit, but it will be easier for a person to get a painful shock.
Prevention and treatment methods
In the practice of specialists, there are no specific prophylaxis and direct methods of treating a low pain threshold. To do this, it is recommended to treat diseases of the nervous system and thyroid gland on time, eat right, and also lead a fairly active lifestyle.
In the autumn and spring periods, it is necessary to take vitamin complexes. It is required to choose them correctly, after consulting a doctor.
Also, experts recommend using external favorable factors:
- Creating a good home environment.
- A supportive work environment.
- Moderate physical activity.
- Proper nutrition.
- Alternation of labor and working hours.
Possible complications
A low pain threshold is not a disease, but it can seriously ruin a person's life and mood. For example, children who suffer from low pain sensitivity find it very difficult to find a common language with their peers in kindergarten or school.
During various games, they may suffer from unbearable pain. This is a very bad factor, which leaves an unpleasant mark behind it - such a child is recognized as a "whiner" and a special stigma is placed on him.
After the transition to adulthood, the situation of such people is seriously aggravated:
- Inability to get a job that involves physical activity.
- Terrible fear of seeing a doctor.
- Women endure a rather difficult and painful time period before childbirth.
A situation with a low pain threshold is an increase in a person's susceptibility to even the most insignificant irritating factors. To eliminate it, you need to control your emotions and lead a correct lifestyle.
Pain threshold video
What determines the pain threshold:
