We present a new way of understanding pain, integrating ideas from phenomenology and cognitive science. Traditional biomedical and biopsychosocial models oversimplify pain, leading to fragmented views and outdated beliefs. Our 5E framework (Embodied, Embedded, Enacted, Emotive, Extended) offers a fresh perspective, viewing pain as a dynamic, relational process, challenging conventional beliefs about its existence in the mind or specific bodily areas.
PainSA is a chapter of the International Association for the Study of Pain. Our mission is to improve all aspects of pain management in Southern Africa.
We are a multidisciplinary society whose membership includes all healthcare professionals