Why Do I Have Pain? | Everything Sickle Cell

Waking up with a sore throat that really hurts when you swallow. Jamming your finger at basketball practice. Playing a video game for so long that your wrist aches. These situations are different, but they have one thing in common: They all make you say "ouch!"

When your body is injured in some way or something else is wrong, your nerves (cells that help your body send and receive information) send millions of messages to your brain about what's going on. Your brain then makes you feel pain. So if you put your hand on a hot stove, your nerves call your brain, and your brain sends the message that your hand hurts. You get this message and pull your hand away from the hot stove, which saves your hand from further injury.

People don't come with warning lights, like the lights on a car dashboard that let the driver know when the car is low on oil or gas. We need the sensation of pain to let us know when our bodies need extra care. It's an important signal.

When we sense pain, we pay attention to our bodies and can take steps to fix what hurts. Pain also may prevent us from injuring a body part even more. If it didn't hurt to walk on a broken leg, a person might keep using it and cause more damage. If your throat is really sore, you'll probably go to the doctor, who can treat the infection if you have one.

Doctors and other health professionals use a person's pain as a clue in figuring out what is wrong. Here are some questions a doctor may ask about pain:

    - Where does it hurt?

    - Does it hurt all the time?

    - When did it start hurting?

    - Does the pain stay in one place or move around?

    - Does anything make the pain feel better?

    - What makes it worse?

They ask these questions because they want what you want: for the pain to go away! If pain doesn't go away on its own, often a doctor can suggest medicine or other treatments that will make you feel better until it does.

Join us on the forum

Sickle Cell FAQ's

Related Topics

8 Sickle Cell Disease In Children

Sickle cell anemia gets its name because a person's red blood cells turn from a doughnut shape into a curved sickle shape. What's a sickle look like?

8 Do You Know About Sickle Cell Anemia?

Sickle cell anemia gets its name because a person's red blood cells turn from a doughnut shape into a curved sickle shape. What's a sickle look like?

8 About Anemia

What does it mean when a kid has anemia? Learn about anemia, why kids get it, and how it's treated in our article for kids.

8 Going to the Hospital

It may seem scary to go to a hospital, but doctors and nurses are there to help people who are sick or hurt feel better. Read our article for kids to find out what happens inside a hospital.

8 The Truth About Transfusions

Blood transfusions can save lives. But how do they work? Find out in this article for kids.

Article courtesy of

Disclaimer: Information on this web site is provided for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. You should not use the information on this web site for diagnosing or treating a medical or health condition. You should carefully read all product packaging. If you have or suspect you have a medical problem, promptly contact your professional healthcare provider.