Pain is often misunderstood—seen merely as an unpleasant sensation to be silenced with painkillers. However, according to Dr Athmaja Thottungal, an internationally renowned pain management and lifestyle medicine specialist, pain is much more than that. It’s a communication system, a signal from your body that something deeper is happening.
In this enlightening conversation, Dr Thottungal shares 10 surprising and lesser-known pain connections that will change how you think about your body.
1. Shoulder Pain: The Silent Menopause Messenger
If you’re a woman between 30-50 years old experiencing persistent shoulder pain, you might want to consider your hormones. Many women dismiss this discomfort, not realising that hormonal changes associated with menopause can cause joint inflammation and musculoskeletal pain—often years before other menopause symptoms appear.
2. Diabetes: The Hidden Pain Catalyst
Diabetes isn’t just about blood sugar—it’s a major driver of chronic pain. Diabetic neuropathy is well known, but diabetes-related inflammation can also lead to:
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Increased joint pain
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Heightened muscle sensitivity
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Accelerated inflammatory responses
The good news? Many pain conditions linked to diabetes and Type 2 diabetes may be reversible through comprehensive lifestyle management.
3. The Gut-Pain Connection
Your gut is more than just a digestive organ—it’s a hidden pain and emotional control centre. Chronic gut inflammation can trigger widespread pain conditions such as:
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Fibromyalgia
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Arthritis
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Anxiety and depression
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Chronic fatigue syndrome
Healing your gut and improving microbiome health can significantly reduce pain perception.
4. Emotional Trauma’s Physical Footprint
Unresolved emotional trauma doesn’t just stay in your mind—it can manifest as chronic pain. Psychological trauma creates neurological pathways that can amplify pain responses, making stress management and emotional healing critical components of pain relief.
5. Sleep Position’s Pain Prophecy
Your sleeping posture can determine your pain levels. Poor sleep positions can:
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Trigger neck and shoulder pain
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Misalign spinal structures
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Create long-term muscular imbalances
Something as simple as adjusting your pillow placement can make a huge difference.
6. Climate and Pain Sensitivity
Have you ever felt joint pain before a storm? Barometric pressure changes can:
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Increase joint inflammation
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Heighten pain sensitivity
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Trigger migraines
Many people with chronic pain conditions become “human barometers,” sensing weather shifts in their bodies before they happen.
7. Nutritional Deficiencies: The Silent Pain Instigators
Certain nutrient deficiencies are directly linked to chronic pain:
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Vitamin D deficiency is associated with muscle and bone pain
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Magnesium shortages can cause widespread muscle discomfort
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B-vitamin deficiencies can lead to nerve pain
Addressing these deficiencies can be a game-changer for pain relief.
8. Genetic Pain Inheritance
Did you know your pain tolerance might be inherited? Genetic variations in pain receptor mechanisms mean some people are naturally more sensitive to pain, while others have a higher threshold.
9. Technology’s Hidden Pain Impact
Our modern, screen-driven lifestyles are creating new pain problems:
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“Text neck” from prolonged smartphone use
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Carpal tunnel syndrome from constant typing
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Blue light exposure disrupting sleep, indirectly increasing pain sensitivity
Small adjustments—like better posture and reducing screen time—can help minimise these effects.
10. Chronic Pain’s Invisible Amplifiers
Many underlying conditions can make chronic pain worse, including:
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Thyroid disorders
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Autoimmune diseases
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Chronic stress syndrome
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Undiagnosed inflammatory conditions
Investigating these root causes instead of just suppressing symptoms is key to long-term pain relief.
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