explain
pain
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section
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Here are some interesting things about the immune
systemwhich are relevant to pain:
1.
While our immune system helps us learn and are
involved in everyday stress and pain, it becomes
really involvedwhen things get serious or chronic.
2.
Immune system responses can be learnt responses.
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Our immune systems holdmemories. Vaccinations are
a great example.
3.
Long-term stress and pain usually leads to an
alteration in activity which results inmore
circulating pro-inflammatory cytokines.
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4.
Immune stressors can be onemajor event ormany
minor events (microstressors).
5.
The immune systemmay actually underpin some pain
states, such as ‘mirror pains’ (the same pain on both
sides of the body), and the spread of pain. Smudging
in the brain is due in part to the immune response.
Damaged peripheral nerves are particularly reactive
to pro-inflammatory cytokines.
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Old injuries can
‘come back’ when you have the flu.
6.
Finally, the immune system, like other systems, can
be activated not only by events happening in the
tissues but by the brain’s interpretation of events.
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If you think something is really bad, the thoughts can
lead to an immune response.
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The immune boosting behaviours
This is a good time to talk about the immune boosting
behaviours, behaviours that you can use to counteract
the processes that can combine to cause pain. Here is a
very general list of things that we know can help to
buffer the immune system:
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•
To have an influence on the quality of one’s life
•
To be in control of your life and your treatment options
•
To have family andmedical support
•
To have strong belief systems
•
To have and use a sense of humour
•
To exercise appropriately
While these behaviours buffer the immune system, they
are also known factors which can improve a pain state.
What is the complete
opposite of a stress
response?
A hearty laugh in
a safe place with
friends.
‘
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