Why is inflammation painfull?

Answer 1

Excellent question. There are many complex factors in inflammation that make it a very important function of the body. It involves mostly the endocrine system and tissue hormones called prostaglandins and the immune and lymph system and release of chemicals like histamine and and kinins.

The reason that it is painful is also just as complex. But to put it in simple terms just imagine having a water balloon. If you fill it up just to regular size, it looks pretty good and does the things like shaking and wiggling like you would expect. Now imagine the same water balloon only this time fill it with water until it almost bursts. Can you imagine being that water balloon? It is about ready to burst! That is water pressure doing that. Now imagine that same schenario in your body tissues. When they get so full of fluid that they are feeling like they are going to burst they feel pain. Just remember this helpful memory device: Water = pressure; more water means more pressure, less water is less. Tissues in the body respond to increased pressure by sending impulses to the brain throught the spinal cord that the brain interprets as harmful or painful.