What is Pain, and Why Does it Feel Different for Everyone?

When most of us think about pain, we picture it as a simple alarm system: something gets injured, nerves send a signal, and we feel pain. But modern science tells us it’s not that straightforward.
The International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) defines pain as:

“An unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with, or resembling that associated with, actual or potential tissue damage.”
In other words — pain is not just about your body. It’s an experience created by the brain, combining signals from the body with your memory, emotions, and expectations.

The Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA) also highlights this in its Acute Pain Management: Scientific Evidence (5th edition, 2020): pain is not simply a physical signal but a complex interaction of biological, psychological, and social factors.

Why does pain feel so different from person to person?
If two people have the same surgery or injury, one may recover quickly while the other struggles with ongoing pain. Why?
Science shows that pain is shaped by many factors:

1. Your biology

  • Genetics: Some people have gene differences that make their nerves more (or less) sensitive.
  • Nerves and blood vessels: The density and responsiveness of nerves vary from person to person.
  • Hormones and sex differences: Women, on average, report higher pain sensitivity — partly due to hormonal and immune system differences.

2. Your mind

  • Attention and expectation: If you expect something to hurt, it often does (nocebo effect). If you believe it will help, pain may lessen (placebo effect).
  • Stress, anxiety, and mood: Worry, depression, and catastrophising can amplify pain signals in the brain.
  • Resilience and coping: Mindfulness, positive reframing, and strong coping strategies can help reduce pain intensity.

3. Your social world

  • Cultural background: Some cultures encourage stoicism, while others encourage openness about pain.
  • Support systems: Having supportive friends, family, and healthcare providers reduces distress. Isolation can make pain worse.
  • Life stress and access to care: Financial strain, poor sleep, or lack of medical access can prolong pain.

4. Your nervous system’s memory

Sometimes the nervous system “remembers” pain. This is called central sensitisation. Even after an injury heals, pain signals can stay switched on — the body is safe, but the brain still sounds the alarm.

What science is teaching us (the 2020s and beyond)?
Both IASP and ANZCA emphasise that pain is a unique, whole-person experience:

  • Pain is unique to each person — shaped by biology, psychology, and environment.
  • Chronic pain is a condition in its own right — not just a lingering symptom.
  • Precision medicine is emerging: in the future, doctors may use genetics, biomarkers, and psychological profiles to tailor pain treatments.
  • Non-drug therapies matter — ANZCA notes strong evidence for exercise, mindfulness, physiotherapy, and pain education in helping to “retrain” the brain’s pain pathways.
  • Equity matters — access to care, cultural attitudes, and socioeconomic stress strongly influence who suffers more from pain.

 

Key Takeaways
Pain isn’t just “damage equals pain.” It’s your brain’s protective alarm system — shaped by your body, your past, your emotions, and your environment. That’s why the same injury can feel very different to different people.

At Armadale Anaesthesia, we take this seriously. By drawing on guidance from bodies like ANZCA, we understand your unique experience of pain and use this knowledge to plan the safest and most effective care before, during, and after surgery.

References 
Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA). Acute Pain Management: Scientific Evidence.5th edition, 2020.

International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP).
 “IASP Terminology: Pain.” 2020. iasp-pain.org
Nicholas MK, Blyth FM, Asghari A, et al. “Chronic Pain in Australia: A Status Report.” Pain Medicine. 2019; 20(7):1224–1236.
Moseley GL, Butler DS. Explain Pain Supercharged. Noigroup Publications, 2017.

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