The following information is a summary from WebMD:
- This is an important concept in chronic pain. Often, with acute pain, if something hurts, there is usually harm. Pain is a signal telling us to stop doing the activity or to seek treatment. In chronic pain, that relationship is much weaker. In chronic pain, It is useful to try to differentiate what activities simply hurt and which ones are causing harm. We often cannot follow the traditional cues that we have learned our whole lives. In fact, for those in chronic pain, the group that limits everything they do whenever it hurts, often tends to do worse. The group that works through the pain, tends to do better in the long run.
- In some ways, the body works quite the opposite from how a car works. With a machine, the more you use it, the more it wears out. With the body, the more that you use it, the more likely it is to heal. This is because using the body provides more blood supply to the relevant structures. It helps build muscles around the joints and therefore off loads the joints.
- In chronic pain, it is best to do controlled exercises of the joints to build muscles. This is generally a mindful process, paying attention to posture and fluidity of motion. Keep this in mind when doing activities of daily living. Bend from the legs when lifting. Don't lean against the counter when washing dishes. Remember to pace yourself.
- Keeping these principles in mind will allow you to engage in activities which may cause hurt but with no additional harm.