I don't have a consistent handle on the pain. Due to the type of injury, there is a certain level of pain always there. But...................BIG but............then there's the 'surprise pain'! Usually nerve, but can be skeletal/muscular. I'm ok with the transitory pain, even though that's usually the most intense. It's the stuff that stays around that bugs me the most. I can't do anything about the damage, but I do try to keep my inflammation down to a minimum.
Speaking of that and peppers, I might want to start growing peppers again for the capsaicin.