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Illness is never a pleasant experience. However, have you ever caught a viral infection and felt unusual pain in a part of your body that you think really shouldn’t hurt?
You may feel that your skin is sensitive to touch, or your teeth may hurt. But why does this happen?
First of all, why might you feel pain in other places when you’re ill?
“When you are infected by a virus, your immune system responds to protect your body. Inflammation begins and pain is one of the key symptoms of that inflammation,” says Dr. Franziska Denková, an associate professor at King’s College London who researches pain.
“Pain is caused by nerves in the body sensing that immune cells are active and that your body is therefore under attack. The nerves respond by sending signals to the brain to rest and not move too much until the immune system has done its job and the inflammation subsides,” she adds.
One common symptom of flu is a “dull” ache all over the body that makes even sitting in bed difficult. During illness the immune system wants to intervene and defend the body against viruses and bacteria.
During the defense, white blood cells fight the infection. This feeling of muscle pain is usually caused by inflammation. And although you may not like it, it is often a good sign that your body is “fighting back”.
Why do your teeth hurt when you’re ill?
There are upper molars on both sides of the mouth. These teeth are located just below the sinus cavities. When these sinuses are full, they can cause pressure that then causes pain in the upper molars, because the nerves in the teeth are very sensitive. Unfortunately, the pain can worsen for a while when you cough or sneeze.
Why might the inner side of your arms hurt?
Lymph nodes are an important part of the immune system. They are small bean-shaped structures that filter substances passing through the lymphatic fluid. This allows them to trap bacteria, viruses and other disease-causing agents. When you are ill, these nodes often swell and can be tender to the touch and cause mild pain.
Lymph nodes are located throughout the body and can be found in the neck, under the jaw, in the armpits and in the groin.
These swellings often reduce as you recover from a viral infection, however if lymph nodes remain enlarged for a longer time, they should be checked by a doctor.
Why might your testicles hurt when you’ve contracted a viral infection?
The testicles are an interesting organ about the size of two large olives that hang away from the body to stay cooler. Some viral illnesses, such as COVID-19 and mumps, can cause testicular pain as a particular side effect.
Epididymitis (inflammation of the epididymis) can also be caused by some sexually transmitted infections, such as gonorrhoea and chlamydia. This occurs when the tube at the back of the testicle (which stores and transports sperm) becomes inflamed.
However, there can be other reasons why the testicles may hurt. They can swell as a result of infection.
We just note that you should never ignore any swelling or pain of the testicles, because it can be caused by many different factors. If you are concerned, it is appropriate to call a doctor and get examined. If the pain is severe and sudden, you should go to the hospital emergency department.
Why might your hair hurt when you’re ill?
Another complaint people sometimes make is that they feel so awful that their hair hurts! However, your hair is not the cause of the pain. It is the product of the scalp, which is rich in nerve endings, blood vessels and sebaceous glands. The scalp can be sensitive and cause pain.
Can some pain be psychological?
What if there are no physical factors behind the pain? Some scientists call this the biopsychosocial influence on pain. The biopsychosocial model deals with the biological, psychological and social factors that underlie health problems.
“We feel pain when our safety is threatened. Because each person and each moment is unique, experiences of pain can vary greatly between different people and in different situations. Two people with the same degree of bodily damage (from illness or injury) will therefore experience different pain (intensity, duration, frequency and location) depending on a range of biological, psychological and social factors.
For example, a recent study found that even memories of pain affect future pain experiences,” says Dr. Joshua Pate, lead lecturer in physiotherapy at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), whose research focuses on pain.
Source: Iatropedia.gr
