What Is Pain?

Because perception and tolerance of pain vary widely from individual to individual, pain is difficult to define and describe. Essentially, pain is the way your brain interprets information about a particular sensation that your body is experiencing. Information (or "signals") about this painful sensation are sent via nerve pathways to your brain. The way in which your brain interprets these signals as "pain" can be affected by many outside factors, some of which can be controlled by special techniques.

Condition Spotlight

Stanford Pain Chief Leads National Pain Strategy Effort
Dr. Sean Mackey on Pain Management and Stanford's Approach to Treating Pain
Dr. Sean Mackey on Pain Management and Stanford's Approach to Treating Pain Play Video | 3:15
Taking Your Life Back from Pain's Control – with Mind, Body and New Medical Vision
Taking Your Life Back from Pain's Control – with Mind, Body and New Medical Vision Read Story

Clinical Trials for Pain

Clinical trials are research studies that evaluate a new medical approach, device, drug, or other treatment. As a Stanford Health Care patient, you may have access to the latest, advanced clinical trials.

Open trials refer to studies currently accepting participants. Closed trials are not currently enrolling, but may open in the future.

Open Trials Closed Trials