Trauma pain is pain from an injury or wound caused by external force or violence. It can result from any injury or wound. How one perceives trauma pain depends on many factors. Reactions to pain will differ according to:

• The nature and severity of the injury or wound
• The biological nature of the individual
• Prior experiences and conceptions of pain

Peripheral nerves (those outside the brain and spinal cord) are spread throughout the body. Some peripheral nerves contain nociceptors (nerve endings), which work by sensing different types of pain and drawing attention to the original source of pain. When an individual is injured or wounded, a relay of messages is continually sent and modified by nociceptors through peripheral nerves to the cerebral cortex (the part of the brain involved in thought), where pain is consciously recognized.

Not all nociceptors feel pain in the same way, with some being more sensitive to different types of pain than others. Some nociceptors sense external impact, whereas others may sense changes in temperature or detect pressure. Furthermore, different nociceptors may transmit pain information at varying speeds, depending on the severity or importance of the trauma pain.  

Trauma pain can cause the autonomic nervous system (nerves that regulate subconsciously controlled functions) to respond in ways that encourage healing, including:

• Immobilizing the body to defend against additional injury
  
  
• Raising respiratory and digestion rates
  
  
• Releasing hormones (e.g., adrenalin) to help minimize pain
  
  
• Increasing blood pressure and heart rate to ensure that vital organs receive adequate blood flow