Multiple Layers of Pain

Pain is often very complex and rarely attributable to a single cause or factor. For example, in the case of a patient experiencing a tingling sensation down his arm to the fingertips.

At the most obvious layer, the symptom of a tingling sensation is felt down. This symptom may be broken down into its set of related causes and effects. For example in a hypothetical case,

1. A common cause of this sensation is due to nerves around the neck (cervical) region being compressed or impinged upon. Take this to be the first layer.
2. The second layer then considers why the nerves are being compressed or impinged. One reason may be due to tight and tense muscles in the neck & shoulder region. Nerves run between your muscles and when the muscles are in constant tension, they press against the nerves running next to or through them.
3. So then the third layer seeks to explain why the muscles are tense. Muscles often become tense when they are overworked and/or under constant tension. An example is muscle cramps experienced by a long-distance runner. In this example, the tension was caused by poor posture and repetitive stress.
4. So the fourth layer asks why poor posture. Typically, it is due to poor body awareness and weak postural muscles that are unable to hold the spine in good posture for prolonged periods of time.

Note that this is strictly an example and does not necessarily apply true to all cases where a tingling sensation is felt at their fingers tips. One should always seek proper medical advice from a qualified doctor or physiotherapist.