Our Yoga teacher was helping my SO talk out a personal problem and then she said, "When there is something painful, put space around it. And then maybe you can walk away."
I feel this applies to physical pain as well. "Breathe into all the tense, tight spaces," intones Belleruth Naparstek in most of her guided imagery CD's which can be found at Health Journeys
As Sharon Salzberg has said in one of her guided meditations, we must not tell stories to ourselves about our aches and pains. For instance something hurts and I could say, "Well it's all downhill from here!" Or I could be curious, investigate it and let it be there without so much fearful resistance.
Where did I read, "Pain is inevitable but suffering is optional." Our fear, resistance and anxiety regarding pain can make it more intense for us. And going back to our Yoga teacher, space around it is what she recommends for aggravating things. Also as Ram Dass "Loving Awareness" of the richness of our emotions, neither "What I feel is wrong!" nor "I'm feeling the right thing."