# 1

A BRUISE

A bruise is essentially bleeding beneath the skin. Have you ever found a bruise on your arm or leg and you weren't really sure how it got there? This would be an example of tissue damage in the absence of pain. 

# 2

A HEAD ACHE

It would be uncommon for somebody to go through their whole life without experiencing one. In the majority of cases we are happy to attribute a head ache to stress, worry, or fatigue. We rarely associate a head ache with significant tissue or structural harm.

# 3

THE MENSTRAL CYCLE

It is a naturally occurring process that happens once a month when the body is preparing for pregnancy. In may instances this can cause a few days of significant pain and discomfort. There is context to the pain and also a level of expectancy. This is another example of pain in the absence of any significant tissue damage.

# 4

PHANTOM LIMB PAIN

Thought to be due to a fault with the nervous system, phantom limb pain, is the pain the amputees experience in the limb they have had removed. Individuals that experience this type of pain often describe it has severe and unbearable. An example of significant pain in a situation where there is not tissue to be damaged.

# 5

A PAPER CUT

Often a very small injury that can often be difficult to even see. Yet we all know they can be really uncomfortable. An example of minimal tissue damage with the presence of pain. 

# 6

IMAGING

There have been many studies done to date, imaging, pain free individuals. In the majority of cases there is change to the tissue or structure that was previously assumed to be pathology. We now know that a lot of these changes are a normal part of aging. Another example of 'tissue damage' and no pain.