Pain vs. Pains — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Maham Liaqat — Updated on March 15, 2024
Pain is a general term for discomfort or distress, often physical, while "pains" can denote multiple instances of discomfort or refer to great care and effort.
Difference Between Pain and Pains
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Pain typically refers to an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage. It can be acute or chronic, varying widely in intensity and duration. Whereas "pains," in the plural form, often implies multiple instances or sources of pain, it can also be used figuratively to describe considerable effort or care taken in doing something, as in "taking pains to ensure accuracy."
Pain is subjective and can be experienced differently by individuals, influenced by physical, emotional, and psychological factors. On the other hand, "pains" can highlight the presence of multiple discomforts or the extent of effort someone puts into a task, emphasizing diligence or meticulousness.
In medical and common usage, pain serves as both a symptom and a condition, leading to a wide range of treatments and interventions. "Pains," however, when used to describe efforts, suggests a deliberate and often commendable dedication to a task or duty.
The expression of pain can vary culturally and individually, reflecting a complex interplay of biological, social, and psychological factors. Conversely, the use of "pains" in the context of effort showcases a universal appreciation for thoroughness and attention to detail.
While pain management focuses on alleviating or coping with discomfort through various therapies and strategies, taking pains in a task involves deliberate actions and decisions aimed at achieving a high level of precision or care.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Discomfort or distress due to physical or emotional causes.
Multiple instances of discomfort or great care and effort.
Usage Context
Medical, personal, and psychological.
Medical, personal, and figurative for effort.
Implications
Can indicate a symptom or condition needing attention.
May indicate multiple issues or commendable effort.
Treatment/Management
Involves medical, psychological, and alternative therapies.
In the context of effort, implies meticulousness or diligence.
Expression
Subjective and varies by individual.
Can refer to diverse discomforts or extensive efforts.
Compare with Definitions
Pain
A distressing sensation caused by intense or damaging stimuli.
She felt a sharp pain in her ankle after the fall.
Pains
Efforts taken to achieve something.
She took great pains to ensure her work was perfect.
Pain
Emotional suffering or distress.
The pain of loss was overwhelming for him.
Pains
Multiple instances or areas of physical discomfort.
After the marathon, he had pains in his legs and back.
Pain
An annoying or tedious task.
Filling out these forms is such a pain.
Pains
Referring to the troubles or difficulties involved in doing something.
They went through a lot of pains to make the event successful.
Pain
A basic bodily sensation induced by a noxious stimulus.
The doctor asked where the pain was localized.
Pains
The plural form used to emphasize the intensity or extent of effort.
The artist took pains to get every detail right.
Pain
An effort to avoid or alleviate discomfort.
He took pain to adjust his schedule for the treatment.
Pains
A way to express thoroughness or carefulness in a task.
He took pains to explain the procedure clearly.
Pain
Pain is a distressing feeling often caused by intense or damaging stimuli. The International Association for the Study of Pain defines pain as "an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with, or resembling that associated with, actual or potential tissue damage." In medical diagnosis, pain is regarded as a symptom of an underlying condition.
Pains
An unpleasant feeling occurring as a result of injury or disease, usually localized in some part of the body
Felt pains in his chest.
Pain
Highly unpleasant physical sensation caused by illness or injury
She's in great pain
Chest pains
Pains
Bodily suffering characterized by such feelings
Drugs to treat pain.
Pain
Great care or trouble
She took pains to see that everyone ate well
Pains
Mental or emotional suffering; distress.
Pain
Cause mental or physical pain to
It pains me to say this
Her legs had been paining her
Pains
An instance of this
The pains of humiliation.
Pain
An unpleasant feeling occurring as a result of injury or disease, usually localized in some part of the body
Felt pains in his chest.
Pains
Pains The pangs of childbirth.
Pain
Bodily suffering characterized by such feelings
Drugs to treat pain.
Pains
Pains Great care or effort
Taking pains with one's work.
Pain
Mental or emotional suffering; distress.
Pains
(Informal) A source of annoyance; a nuisance
Stuffing all these envelopes is a real pain.
Pain
An instance of this
The pains of humiliation.
Pains
To cause physical pain to; hurt
My feet really pained me after the hike.
Pain
Pains The pangs of childbirth.
Pains
To cause mental or emotional distress to
"It pained him to remember every little thing about her" (John Irving).
Pain
Pains Great care or effort
Taking pains with one's work.
Pains
Plural of pain
Pain
(Informal) A source of annoyance; a nuisance
Stuffing all these envelopes is a real pain.
Pains
Trouble taken doing something; attention to detail; careful effort.
Pain
To cause physical pain to; hurt
My feet really pained me after the hike.
Pains
Labor; toilsome effort; care or trouble taken; - plural in form, but used with a singular or plural verb, commonly the former.
And all my pains is sorted to no proof.
The pains they had taken was very great.
The labored earth your pains have sowed and tilled.
Pain
To cause mental or emotional distress to
"It pained him to remember every little thing about her" (John Irving).
Pains
An effortful attempt to attain a goal
Pain
An ache or bodily suffering, or an instance of this; an unpleasant sensation, resulting from a derangement of functions, disease, or injury by violence; hurt.
The greatest difficulty lies in treating patients with chronic pain.
I had to stop running when I started getting pains in my feet.
Pain
(uncountable) The condition or fact of suffering or anguish especially mental, as opposed to pleasure; torment; distress
In the final analysis, pain is a fact of life.
The pain of departure was difficult to bear.
Pain
An annoying person or thing.
Your mother is a right pain.
Pain
Labour; effort; great care or trouble taken in doing something.
Pain
Any of various breads stuffed with a filling.
Gammon pain; Spanish pain
Pain
(transitive) To hurt; to put to bodily uneasiness or anguish; to afflict with uneasy sensations of any degree of intensity; to torment; to torture.
The wound pained him.
Pain
(transitive) To render uneasy in mind; to disquiet; to distress; to grieve.
It pains me to say that I must let you go.
Pain
To inflict suffering upon as a penalty; to punish.
Pain
To feel pain; to hurt.
Please help me, I am paining hard.
Pain
Any uneasy sensation in animal bodies, from slight uneasiness to extreme distress or torture, proceeding from a derangement of functions, disease, or injury by violence; bodily distress; bodily suffering; an ache; a smart.
Pain
Specifically, the throes or travail of childbirth.
She bowed herself and travailed, for her pains came upon her.
Pain
Uneasiness of mind; mental distress; disquietude; anxiety; grief; solicitude; anguish. Also called mental pain.
In rapture as in pain.
Pain
See Pains, labor, effort.
Pain
To inflict suffering upon as a penalty; to punish.
Pain
To put to bodily uneasiness or anguish; to afflict with uneasy sensations of any degree of intensity; to torment; to torture; as, his dinner or his wound pained him; his stomach pained him.
Excess of cold, as well as heat, pains us.
Pain
To render uneasy in mind; to disquiet; to distress; to grieve; as, a child's faults pain his parents.
I am pained at my very heart.
Pain
A symptom of some physical hurt or disorder;
The patient developed severe pain and distension
Pain
Emotional distress; a fundamental feeling that people try to avoid;
The pain of loneliness
Pain
A somatic sensation of acute discomfort;
As the intensity increased the sensation changed from tickle to pain
Pain
A bothersome annoying person;
That kid is a terrible pain
Pain
Something or someone that causes trouble; a source of unhappiness;
Washing dishes was a nuisance before we got a dish washer
A bit of a bother
He's not a friend, he's an infliction
Pain
Cause bodily suffering to
Pain
Cause emotional anguish or make miserable;
It pains me to see my children not being taught well in school
Common Curiosities
How is chronic pain different from acute pain?
Chronic pain persists over a long period, often without a clear cause, while acute pain is short-lived and usually related to tissue damage.
Can pain be both physical and emotional?
Yes, pain can manifest as both physical discomfort and emotional distress.
How can pain vary among individuals?
Pain perception varies widely among individuals due to differences in pain threshold, emotional state, and cultural background.
What are some common treatments for pain?
Treatments can include medication, physical therapy, psychological counseling, and alternative therapies like acupuncture.
Are there psychological techniques for managing pain?
Yes, techniques like cognitive-behavioral therapy and mindfulness can help manage pain by changing one's response to it.
What is pain?
Pain is an unpleasant sensation and emotional experience linked to tissue damage or described in terms of such damage.
How does one's attitude affect pain management?
A positive attitude, along with effective coping strategies, can significantly impact pain management and perception.
What does "taking pains" mean?
"Taking pains" refers to making a concerted effort to ensure something is done thoroughly or well.
Can taking pains in work lead to better outcomes?
Yes, taking pains often leads to higher quality work and better outcomes due to the thoroughness and effort involved.
Can emotional pain manifest physically?
Yes, emotional pain can lead to physical symptoms, a phenomenon known as somatization.
What role does attention to detail play in taking pains?
Attention to detail is crucial when taking pains, as it ensures tasks are performed with the utmost care and precision.
Is it common to experience pains in multiple body parts simultaneously?
Yes, it's possible to experience pains in multiple areas, especially with conditions like fibromyalgia or widespread muscle strain.
What is the significance of understanding the difference between pain and pains?
Understanding the difference helps in accurately describing physical discomforts and the efforts or care taken in tasks, enhancing communication and treatment approaches.
How does culture influence pain expression?
Cultural norms and beliefs can significantly influence how individuals express and cope with pain.
Why is it important to manage chronic pain effectively?
Effective management is crucial to improve quality of life, reduce the risk of mental health issues, and maintain functionality.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
