i ask for the difference between pain sensitivity and tolerance
you receive it!
it's actually not a direct difference between sensitivity and and tolerance, because pain sensitivity as a phrase is used to cover pain tolerance regardless, but it also covers the true split with pain threshold, which would've been more annoying to fit on the shirt and apparently less catchy!
the difference between pain tolerance and pain threshold will be explained from here on, now that you know that sensitivity covers both but are lacking precisely what.
pain tolerance describes the upper end of pain that someone can take; essentially, how soon they tap out. now, this can vary (as can threshold) based on pain location, pain type, expectations, overall body condition, and various other factors, but there are often trends. some people tend to be able to put up with more than others, even when they're experiencing the same thing in the same place at the same time etc. this is the word most people are most familiar with of the two, and the one that tends to come up more.
pain threshold describes the lower end of pain that someone can feel; essentially, how soon they register sensations as painful. again, it can vary based on various factors, and again there are often trends. some people tend to register pain sooner than others.
now that we know these key differences, I'll explain that threshold and tolerance need not be the same distance apart for everyone. some people have a very high pain threshold but a comparatively low pain tolerance (take more to register stimulation as painful, but tap out quickly when they do), while others (such as myself) are the opposite (register pain sooner, but can handle more before tapping out)!
pain sensitivity is used varyingly to describe both pain tolerance and pain threshold, so it doesn't necessarily have just one meaning. that's what makes discussions about it so difficult!
also, there is a device designed for measuring pain threshold, though it's used less in human medicine and more in veterinary medicine. it's called a dolorimeter, and works by gradually increasing sensations like pressure or heat to the patient until a pain response is registered.
and now you know💜 thank you for letting me use my locked-and-loaded rant
