We all understand the concept of pain. When something is wrong with our bodies, pain is one of the first symptoms we experience. However, pain varies from person to person, and not everyone experiences the same pain in the same way.

So the real question is when something hurts is it bad for you?

First, let’s talk about the notion of hurt versus harm. Both words are usually used interchangeably, but they’re fundamentally different concepts. When a body part hurts, it is an indication that some type of strenuous or difficult activity has taken place and the body is trying to recuperate. This can include exercising, sitting for prolonged periods of time or any situation when the body is being put under stress. Harm to the body happens when there is lasting and potentially irreparable damage to the tissues. This can include broken bones, dislocations or illness that change the body's mechanics.

The soreness you feel after exercise and treatments such as Chiropractic, Physiotherapy and Massage Therapy are all indications that your body is undergoing change. In the case of exercise, the muscles are changing and growing. And in the case of treatment, the body is healing, and the muscles and joints that were previously inflamed and irritated are relaxing.

The important thing is to understand good pain versus bad pain. Good pain is the type of discomfort that usually lasts up to 72 hours and is typically mild in nature. People who exercise frequently are quite accustomed to this type of discomfort. Bad pain is a whole different ball game, and it’s important to be able to differentiate it from the good pain. Bad pain is when you know something is seriously wrong. For example, you break your ankle or dislocate your shoulder. These are situations that require emergency care and possibly further intervention. This is the type of pain that you should be wary of and ensure you seek the proper care to ensure there’s no lasting damage to your body.

The moral of the story is that just because it hurts doesn’t mean it’s harming you, and knowing the difference between good pain and bad pain can help relieve some of the mental distress you feel when something is hurting.