Move Free Pontypool

Why your pain score is only one part of the assessment

New research involving over 12,000 adults with persistent musculoskeletal pain identified different combinations of pain, movement-related fear and worry.

Some people had significant fear and concern despite not reporting the highest pain intensity.

This does not mean pain is “all in your head”. It means two people with the same pain score may have different needs, goals and barriers to recovery.

That is why I look at how your symptoms affect movement, confidence, sleep, work and everyday life, not just the number out of ten.

📍 Move Free Chiropractic Pontypool
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Research paper: https://doi.org/10.1002/ejp.70362

“It just hurts.”

That’s what most people say.

But pain can feel very different depending on what’s irritated, and those details give us useful clues.

SAVE this for the next flare-up.

MUSCLE PAIN
The “Ache”

Dull, sore, tight or grabbing.

Usually more localised and often worse when you use, stretch or load that muscle.

You can often point to one area and say:
“It hurts right here.”

DISC-RELATED PAIN
The “Deep Pressure”

Deep, central, heavy or hard to pinpoint.

Often aggravated by prolonged sitting, bending forward or getting up after sitting.

It can feel like the pain is coming from deep inside the lower back.

That does not automatically mean your spine is damaged or unstable.

NERVE-RELATED PAIN
The “Electric” Feeling

Burning, shooting, tingling, buzzing or electric.

It often travels into the glute, thigh, calf or foot.

You may also notice numbness, altered sensation or weakness.

HERE’S THE IMPORTANT PART

Pain rarely fits perfectly into one box.

You can have irritated spinal tissues, nerve sensitivity and protective muscle tension happening together.

That’s why a proper conversation, movement assessment and physical examination matter.

At Move Free Chiropractic Pontypool, the aim is not just to chase the painful spot.

It’s to understand what may be contributing to it and help you move confidently again.

Which sounds most familiar?

Muscle 🟢
Disc 🔵
Nerve ⚡

Drop yours below 👇

Educational content only. Symptoms overlap and cannot diagnose the cause of pain on their own.

Millie’s been working hard lately, starting college and putting in the hours with her studies 📚

Long days sitting, studying and carrying bags around can definitely leave the body feeling a bit stiff and tight.

A little treatment, some movement and a good reset can go a long way 🙌

Looking after your body isn’t just for when something hurts. Sometimes it’s about keeping yourself moving well while life gets busy.

Pain is usually the last thing people notice, not the first thing happening.

You do not need to wait until your back has completely gone, your neck is giving you headaches, or training becomes impossible.

Sometimes people come in because they feel stiff, restricted, keep getting the same niggle, or simply want to move and train with more confidence.

Chiropractic is not only about fixing a crisis. It is also about understanding how your body is moving and what may help you stay active.

Big thanks to Paul McCambridge, one of my university tutors, for sharing this paper with me. A new study has looked at one of the most important safety questions around cervical spinal manipulation: is it associated with cervical artery dissection?

Researchers compared two matched cohorts of 431,492 patients with new neck pain or headache. One received chiropractor-administered cervical spinal manipulation and the other had an outpatient visit with an ibuprofen prescription.

The study found no evidence of an increased 30-day risk of cervical artery dissection following manipulation.

That does not mean neck manipulation is proven risk-free. This was observational research, and rare vascular conditions can initially present with neck pain or headache before diagnosis.

The useful takeaway is not “nothing to worry about”. It is that careful assessment, appropriate consent and recognising symptoms that require medical investigation remain important.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12998-026-00678-4