What effect does pain have on wound healing?

Pain can significantly delay wound healing due to its physiological and psychological effects on the body. When an animal is in pain, stress hormones such as cortisol are released, which can interfere with the inflammatory process that is crucial for healing. Prolonged pain may lead to increased levels of stress and anxiety, which can hinder the immune response and reduce the body’s ability to repair tissues.

Additionally, pain can impede an animal's ability to move normally, limiting blood circulation to the wound site and affecting nutrient delivery essential for healing. If the pain is severe, the animal may groom or lick the wound excessively, leading to further complications such as infection or reopening the wound, thus prolonging the healing process.

In contrast, the other choices don't accurately represent the relationship between pain and wound healing. While healing may be effective in a pain-free environment, pain generally disrupts the healing cascade rather than enhancing it or having no impact at all.