What is a defining characteristic of maladaptive pain?

A defining characteristic of maladaptive pain is that it causes suffering without a useful function. This type of pain often persists beyond the normal healing process or occurs without an identifiable physical cause, meaning it does not serve the typical protective role that pain usually has. Maladaptive pain may lead to significant distress and impairment in quality of life, indicating that it has moved beyond its usual purpose of signaling injury or bodily harm.

In contrast, pain that prevents injury or has a clear protective function serves as an important physiological signal to protect the body from further harm. While some medications may be effective in managing various types of pain, maladaptive pain often resists standard treatment, complicating the management and further emphasizing its nature of causing suffering without a beneficial role.