Pain, as weird as this sounds, can be likened to a bucket of water. The water bucket analogy provides a simple yet powerful visualisation of pain accumulation. Each drop of water represents an experience or stressor that impacts your body. For some, this might be a sudden injury from a fall, a muscle tear whilst playing sports, or the sudden onset of a migraine. These are the more obvious drops of water, but what about the drops we don’t really consider?
Pain isn’t always a direct result of physical trauma. Often, it’s the culmination of various internal and external factors that we may not immediately recognise. Here are some significant contributors to the overflowing bucket of pain:
Poor sleep doesn’t just leave you tired; it can amplify existing pain or create new discomforts. Research shows that inadequate sleep lowers pain tolerance and increases sensitivity. Consider this the next time you want to binge your favourite netflix series
Deadlines, demanding bosses, or a hectic schedule—work stress adds litres and litres to your pain bucket. The constant pressure can lead to tense muscles, headaches, and even exacerbate existing conditions like back pain or migraines.
While enjoyable, these activities can also fill your bucket faster than you realise. A sudden sprint, a day of moving furniture, or hours spent hunched over trying to do DIY renovations at home—all of these add drops that accumulate over time.
Indulging in alcohol or certain substances might seem like a release, but they can be double-edged swords. Not only do they impact sleep quality, but they also affect the body’s ability to manage pain.
Sometimes you’re not so lucky and already start your day with a half filled bucket. Chronic conditions like arthritis, fibromyalgia, or autoimmune diseases continually add drops, regardless of external factors. Managing these conditions becomes crucial to prevent overflow and manage pain effectively.
Written by Nick Dimakis (Chiropractor)
