One of the most important symptoms that leads a person to see a doctor is pain. Pain is a physical experience we feel in our body. It is a warning that indicates something is going wrong in our body. In order to understand with certainty that pain is caused by a disorder in our body, we must first be convinced that there is no external physical factor creating the pain. Tight shoes can cause pain in our feet. A tight tie can make our throat hurt. Sitting continuously can cause pain in our back or hips. In such cases, we need to remove the pressure. A person who is aware of these factors does not think of taking painkillers. Instead, they do something to restore blood circulation in the area under pressure. Therefore, one of the most important causes of pain is reduced blood flow in the painful area. When tissues do not receive enough oxygen and nutrients, pain begins in that region. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
Internal events are also important factors that create pain. Excessive muscle contraction causes pain. Narrowing of blood vessels causes pain. For example, in a heart attack, the cause of pain is the blockage or narrowing of the vessel leading to a part of the heart. The severity of pain is proportional to the reduced blood flow. Continuous muscle contraction either directly stimulates nerve endings or causes the contracted muscles to press on blood vessels, reducing circulation. Pain is an alarm. It tells us that a part of our body is under threat. It tells us that we need to do something. If our back hurts from sitting too long, we need to get up, move, and relax our muscles. Or we need to eliminate muscle tension and contraction. Inflammation or injuries in tissues also cause pain. In this case, we either need to treat the inflammation or avoid moving that area until the injury heals. If we cannot find a reason for the pain, we consult a doctor. The doctor examines us, performs tests, and tries to find the cause of the pain. If a cause is found, treatment is given not for the pain itself, but to eliminate that cause. If there is inflammation, medication is given to dry it up. If there is an injury, treatment is recommended to help it heal faster. If the diagnosis and treatment are correct, the pain disappears. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
However, most of the time there is no clear reason that can explain the pain. In this case, either rheumatism or fibromyalgia is diagnosed. These are symptomatic diagnoses. In other words, they are diagnoses based on the way the person describes their pain. Once a disease is diagnosed, it creates the impression that the cause has been found. In this case, we do not criticize the prescription of painkillers. Today, painkillers are among the most commonly used medications. Most painkillers directly target the nerve pathways in the brain that transmit pain. In other words, they stop the brain from perceiving pain. Simply put, they numb the brain against pain. They do not target the mechanism creating the pain, because there is no clear cause. When the brain’s pain-perceiving areas are disabled, the cause of the pain has not disappeared. The process continues, but the alarm has been turned off. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
When we feel pain, taking a painkiller has become a habit. How can pain without a reason be eliminated? Can pain occur without any reason? Let’s say the reason for the pain is muscle tension. If you stop the pain without eliminating the muscle tension, you will be forcing your tense muscles. But would taking a muscle relaxant solve the issue of muscle tension? No. Most of us actually know that seemingly causeless pain comes from stress. Why does stress create pain? :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
The most important reason is muscle tension. Stress means perceiving a threat. The beliefs and programs embedded in a person’s subconscious perceive different situations as threats. In the face of threat, we need to stay alert. To stay alert, we tense our body. This is a state of being ready to run away or fight at any moment. Continuous alertness turns muscle tension into a habit. The tightening of muscles in certain areas becomes automatic. Tense muscles create pain. In fact, it means there is a conflict within our body. We cannot eliminate pain without eliminating stress. Either we need to correct the conditions creating stress, or we need to eliminate our body’s unnecessary reaction. If there is no external situation to fix at that moment, we need to focus inward. At that moment, there is only one thing to focus on: the pain itself. Instead of trying to get rid of the pain, we continue to feel it. We focus completely on the pain. We give all our attention to it. We focus on the part where it is felt most intensely. We know that it is only a sensation—a feeling created in response to a perception of threat. Feeling the pain is like calming the subconscious as if it were a small child. As we continue to feel the pain, the subconscious begins to understand that there is nothing to fear and removes the tension. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
As you keep focusing on the pain and trying to feel it, the intensity, quality, and location of the pain change. A sharp and pressing pain begins to soften and throb. Its area starts to expand. At this point, the place where the pain is felt most intensely may also have changed. Then, find the area where it is strongest again and focus there. As the center of the pain shifts, search for it, find it, and focus on it. What I am describing here is a form of meditation. The mind cannot do two things at the same time. While focusing on a sensation, you cannot think at the same time. If you are thinking, it means your focus on the pain has been distracted. While feeling the pain, just feel it—without criticizing, judging, or searching for a reason. If somehow your focus is distracted and you find yourself thinking again, return to your pain. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}
When the mind focuses on a sensation, it cannot criticize or think. This state is also a hypnotic mental state. If the person is sincere in their intention to dissolve the pain, a suggestion is also added on top of this hypnotic state. If the pain begins to dissolve, it means the subconscious is accepting this suggestion and releasing the unnecessary perception of threat. If it does not dissolve, scan your mind and try to remember the last person you felt anger toward. Once you find that person, focus on your pain again with the intention of forgiving them. With mental-level work, it is possible to get rid of all kinds of chronic pain.
Op. Dr. Bülent Uran
bulent_uran@yahoo.com