What Are the Different Types of Pain?

Physiotherapy Phnom Penh types of pain

Pain is complex. But understanding what kind of pain you’re dealing with is the first step toward choosing the right treatment.

At Studio On, located in BKK1, Phnom Penh, I use physiotherapy to assess, explain, and treat different types of pain. Whether it’s a fresh injury or long-lasting discomfort, knowing the type of pain you have can help you get better — faster and more

1. Nociceptive Pain

What is it?

This is the most common type of pain. It occurs when tissue is damaged — like when you sprain your ankle, pull a muscle, or develop inflammation in a joint.

What does it feel like?

It’s usually sharp, throbbing, or aching. The pain is located directly at the site of the problem.

Examples:

• Sports injuries

• Tendinitis

• Osteoarthritis

• Post-surgical recovery

How physiotherapy helps:

Manual therapy, guided movement, and specific exercises reduce inflammation, restore mobility, and promote healing.

2. Neuropathic Pain

What is it?

Neuropathic pain comes from irritation or damage to a nerve. It’s less about the tissues themselves and more about how your nervous system is misfiring.

What does it feel like?

Burning, tingling, shooting pain, or numbness — sometimes in a pattern following a nerve.

Examples:

• Sciatica

• Carpal tunnel syndrome

• Nerve compression from a herniated disc

How physiotherapy helps:

We focus on relieving pressure on the nerve, improving mobility, and calming hypersensitive areas using movement and desensitization strategies.

3. Nociplastic Pain

What is it?

This type of pain doesn’t come from obvious injury or nerve damage. Instead, your brain and nervous system become overly sensitive — reacting to normal input as if it were dangerous.

What does it feel like?

Widespread, unpredictable, or persistent pain, often with fatigue or sleep issues.

Examples:

• Chronic low back pain

• Fibromyalgia

• Long-term joint pain with no clear cause

How physiotherapy helps:

Education, gradual movement, breathwork, and nervous system retraining help reduce sensitivity and restore confidence in movement.

Why Does It Matter?

Each type of pain needs a different approach. A sprain isn’t treated like nerve pain. And long-term, unexplained pain won’t improve with rest alone.

At Studio On, I provide evidence-based physiotherapy to identify the source of your pain and tailor a plan that actually fits your situation.

Let’s Talk About Your Pain

I provide structured and evidence-based online physiotherapy for patients worldwide, offering clinical assessment, diagnosis, and personalised rehabilitation.

I also receive patients in person at my physiotherapy clinic in Phnom Penh.

You can begin your online physiotherapy session through the dedicated platform:

https://www.studiohealthon.com/online-physiotherapy

More information on clinical standards and supporting evidence is available here:

https://www.studiohealthon.com/online-physiotherapy-clinical-evidence

Yannick Sarton, MSc Physiotherapist

International Online Physiotherapy & In-Clinic Care, Phnom Penh