Here at Sundial Clinics, our expert practitioners spend their days working with people in pain. Some patients hobble in with acute twinges, others are dealing with dull aches that have been gnawing at them for years. One of the most common questions we get is: “Should I push through this or is my body telling me to stop?” The answer? It depends.
Pain is not always the enemy. In fact, it’s one of the most sophisticated protective mechanisms we’ve got. But like any good system, it can sometimes go wrong. Understanding when pain is helpful and when it’s a sign of something more serious is key to staying active, healthy and injury-free.
The Science Behind Pain
Pain isn’t just about damage. It’s about perception. When your body senses something might be harmful, it sends messages to your brain via the nervous system. But the brain doesn’t just passively receive these messages—it interprets them, based on context, emotion, stress and previous experiences.
This is why two people can experience the same injury in very different ways. One might shrug it off; the other might be in agony. Studies in neuroscience (1) have shown that pain is a complex output of the brain—not a direct measure of tissue damage.
Take this classic study: soldiers in battle often reported little or no pain from serious injuries until they were out of danger(2). Meanwhile, someone might experience severe back pain without any visible damage on scans. MRI studies have also shown that people can have herniated discs or arthritic changes on scans with no pain at all (3). This tells us loud and clear: pain isn’t just about structure—it’s about context. And it confirms that pain is not always proportional to the problem.
Helpful Pain: Your Body’s Early Warning System
In many cases, pain is a friend—an alert to pay attention. Muscle soreness after exercise? That’s a normal part of adaptation, often called DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness). A tweak in your back after lifting awkwardly? That might be a warning to move better, not necessarily a disaster.
Acute pain that settles within a few days is usually nothing to worry about. It’s your body waving a little flag: “Ease up, let me heal.” Rest, gentle movement and maybe a cold compress are often all that’s needed. Even low-grade niggles in your neck or shoulders can often be managed with better posture, mobility work and a touch of manual therapy.
When Pain Is a Red Flag
But not all pain is benign. Sometimes it’s a flashing red warning light—and it’s crucial to know the difference.
Here are a few types of pain that need a closer look:
- Pain that doesn’t improve or worsens over time – especially if it’s lasting more than six weeks.
- Night pain that wakes you or is worse when lying down.
- Pain with neurological symptoms– like numbness, tingling, or weakness in arms or legs.
- Pain after trauma, like a fall or car accident, especially in older adults.
- Unexplained weight loss, fever, or fatigue alongside the pain.
In these cases, the pain might be linked to more serious underlying issues—nerve compression, fractures, inflammatory conditions, or even, rarely, infection or malignancy. Our chiropractors are trained to spot these red flags and refer you to the right place when needed.
To Push or Not to Push?
There’s a fine balance between listening to your body and avoiding activity altogether. Many people are afraid of movement once they’ve had a painful episode—especially with back pain. But rest isn’t always the answer.
In fact, numerous studies show that graded movement —slowly and progressively increasing activity—is often the best approach for most musculoskeletal pain. Bed rest has fallen out of favour for back pain, with NICE guidelines now recommending people stay gently active and return to normal activities as soon as they’re able. This is something we here at Sundial have been recommending for decades.
So when can you push through pain? If the pain is mild and not associated with the red flags it’s usually safe to keep going. Some discomfort is normal when you’re rebuilding strength or mobility. If the pain eases as you warm up, or fades after activity, that’s often a green light.
However, if pain sharpens, radiates, or spikes during or after movement, it’s time to ease off and reassess.
What Pain Tells Us About Injury
Different types of pain often give us clues about the underlying issue:
- Sharp, stabbing pain may indicate a joint or ligament injury.
- Dull, aching pain is often muscular.
- Burning or electric pain can suggest nerve involvement.
- Stiffness in the morning that improves with movement may be inflammatory, like arthritis.
- Pain on loading a joint, such as the knee or hip, might hint at cartilage or meniscus issues.
Sundial chiropractors or physiotherapists will use these clues—alongside a thorough assessment—to work out what’s going on and tailor a treatment plan to get you moving again safely.
Final Thoughts
Pain is a messenger, not a sentence. It’s there to guide us—but it’s not always right. Learning to decode your pain can help you make smarter decisions about your health. Don’t fear all pain—but don’t ignore it blindly, either.
If in doubt, come and see us at Sundial to get it checked. Our experienced musculoskeletal professionals can tell you whether to rest, stretch, strengthen or seek further investigation.
Because while pain might slow you down, the right approach can put you back in control.
Sources:
- Moseley GL & Butler DS. (2015). Explain Pain Supercharged. NOI Group.
- Beecher HK. (1959). Pain in Men Wounded in Battle. Annals of Surgery.
- Jensen MC, et al. (1994). Magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar spine in people without back pain. NEJM, 331(2), 69–73.