Pain may be one of those things most of us won't ever welcome with open arms or with a smile on our face, but pain does serve a purpose. Pain is a part of the body's natural defense mechanism. It triggers a reflex reaction that signals us to get away from the stimulus that is causing pain. It is pain that enables us to make behavioral adjustments so that we know to avoid that pain stimulus or painful situation later on.

However, it's quite different when it is a case of chronic pain or pain that lasts a long time, often linked to diseases. In addition, medications are not always able to provide long-term cure for chronic pain. There are many treatments for pain, but these treatment options are often limited for many people. This is why it's essential that you have a good understanding of your pain and make use of the treatment that is most appropriate for your case.

One type of pain is superficial somatic pain. This type of pain is also referred to as cutaneous pain. Skin or superficial tissue injury causes this type of pain. Superficial somatic pain is characterized by a sharp, localized pain that goes away pretty quickly. Minor wounds and first degree burns are injuries that can produce superficial somatic pain.

Then there is deep somatic pain, which originates from tendons, ligaments, blood vessels, muscles and bones. This type of pain is characterized by a dull ache, poorly-localized pain that usually lasts a long time. Sprains, myofascial pain and broken bones are just a few examples of injuries that cna produce deep somatic pain.

The third type of pain, visceral pain, comes from the organs and visceral nociceptors. The pain is within the organs and internal cavities. Due to the scarcity of nociceptors in the organs and internal cavities, visceral pain is often exhibited through more aches and cramps. Furthermore, visceral pain can last much longer than somatic pain. It can be difficult to pinpoint the source of visceral pain; injuries to the visceral tissues may show "referred" pain, which means pain is felt in a localized area that isn't even related to the actual injury site.

According to the World health Organization, the 3 types of pain fall in a "pain ladder" -- mild pain, moderate pain, and severe pain.

Mild pain is characterized by pain that disappears without therapy or by using nonprescription drugs such as aspirin, acetaminophen, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) including Aleve, Advil and Motrin.

Moderate pain is characterized by pain that can interfere with your daily functioning. Moderate pain can be hard to ignore but it does disappear after some time. It usually doesn't return once appropriate treatment has been applied. Stronger drugs may be needed for moderate pain. However, most NSAIDs such as ibuprofen has been proven to be as effective as codeine in relieving pain.

Severe pain or chronic pain is characterized by pain that disrupts some or all of your daily activities. Severe pain can drive you to bed or chair rest, and this pain doesn't usually go away on its own. It also requires continuous treatment, which can be days, weeks, months or even years. According to the World Health Organization, severe pain requires the use of strong opioids, including fentanyl, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, methadone, and oxycodone.