Pain is a complex and universal human experience, having physical and emotional components. It is an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage¹. The word pain comes from the Latin word 'Poena', meaning punishment¹.

Pain can be categorized into acute or chronic. Acute pain is a vital response to injury or disease, alerting us to the need for help. Chronic pain, on the other hand, persists beyond the normal time of healing, if a cause can be identified at all³.
The prevalence of pain, particularly chronic pain, is widespread. Population surveys suggest that self-reported chronic pain occurs to a similar extent in many parts of the world. Chronic pain is emerging as an important component of the global burden of disability. Musculoskeletal pain and headaches dominate in terms of frequency and overall impact, but the more severe end of the spectrum is mostly about multiple pains².
There is evidence that the reporting of chronic pain has increased in recent decades. While commonly occurring conditions such as back pain are important contributors to population morbidity burden, they do not contribute much to the major drivers of population mortality rates or years of life lost to death².
Managing pain is not about making it disappear rather it is about keeping it under control¹.
Please note that this information is intended to be general in nature, and specific causes may not apply to your situation. Always consult with a healthcare provider for accurate information. If you're experiencing pain, it's important to consult with a healthcare provider for a proper diagnosis and treatment plan.