Inflammation as a source of pain
Are two types of inflammation: macro/localized inflammation and micro/ generalized inflammation. When someone has the macro type mation, it is obvious.
You see it in people with acute strep throats, a boil, or a gout attack. It is also present in active cases of autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus in very specific joints, or in ulcerative colitis (UC) or Crohn's disease in certain parts of the bowel.
Macro- inflammation is clearly a source of structurally induced pain. It is visible on examination, the blood tests of inflammatory markers are very high, it causes some degree of tissue damage, and it responds well to anti- inflammatory medications, such as NSAIDs, steroids, and the newer classes of biologic medications.
On the other hand, microinflammation may be demonstrable on microscopic analysis but is not visible to the eye. We can measure microinflammation by blood tests such as erythrocyte sedimentation rates or C-reactive protein levels.
To be clear, microinflammation is a real phenomenon. It can increase with stress as well as with exposure to certain foods, including processed and foods.