2011 Tour das Hugel
Pain is an unpleasant sensation often caused by intense or damaging stimuli such as stubbing a toe, burning a finger, putting iodine on a cut, and bumping the “funny bone.”[1]
It motivates withdrawal from damaging or potentially damaging situations, protection of a damaged body part while it heals, and avoidance of similar experiences in the future.[2] Most pain resolves promptly once the painful stimulus is removed and the body has healed, but sometimes pain persists despite removal of the stimulus and apparent healing of the body; and sometimes pain arises in the absence of any detectable stimulus, damage or disease.[3]
Pain is the most common reason for physician consultation in the United States.[4] It is a major symptom in many medical conditions, and can significantly interfere with a person’s quality of life and general functioning.[5] Psychological factors such as social support, hypnotic suggestion, excitement in sport or war and distraction can significantly modulate pain’s intensity or unpleasantness.[6][7]
