Creaky Joints speaks to James F. Wyss, MD, PT, physiatrist at HSS about different types of pain and how to speak to your health care provider effectively.

Pain is your nervous system signaling to you that something may be wrong. It can be a warning that something is damaged or about to be damaged. It can be sharp, dull, tingling, burning, pricking, stinging, or aching. It can be localized to one spot or all over. Or, sometimes, it can just be hard to pinpoint.  

Understanding pain requires knowing its source. “Everybody perceives pain as a warning sign,” said Dr. Wyss.

For that reason, it’s important to get to the bottom of your pain. If you know the source of your pain, you will know if you need to heed it or push past it, said Dr. Wyss. “Is it your body’s way of telling you there is something more serious going on,” he said. 

Dr. Wyss emphasizes the importance of being proactive in your health care by asking questions. He suggests that patients should feel empowered to ask their doctor how they determine the nature of their pain. “For example, If I’m being told I have joint, muscle or nerve pain, I would ask how they know,” he explained. 

Read the full article at creakyjoints.org.