Understanding Pain

This chapter introduces core concepts in pain science, including definitions, basic mechanisms and key distinctions used in clinical practice.

What Is Pain?

Overview of the IASP definition of pain, the difference between pain and nociception, and the biopsychosocial model.

Short explanation of nociception, peripheral and central pathways, and pain modulation systems.

Introduction to nociceptive, neuropathic, nociplastic and mixed pain, with simple clinical examples.

Differences in mechanisms, clinical significance and implications for treatment.