Chapter 7 Pain Flashcards
what is the definition of pain
pain is the way your brain interprets information about unpleasant stimuli
what are afferent pathways
nerves that carry messages to the brain for interpretion
what are efferent (or descending) pathways
carry messages away from the brain via spinal cord
what are nociceptors
- receptors that activate the afferent pathway
- found in body tissue (soma) and organs (viscera)
what are pain receptors sensitive to?
- chemical changes
- temperature
- mechanical stimuli
- tissue damage
when pain receptors are stimulated impulses are transmitted to what ?
the spinal cord
what are some nervous system responses to pain?
increased hr, rr, and bp
what is pain threshold vs tolerance?
pain threshold: the point at which pain is received
pain tolerance: length of time/intensity of pain a person can endure before outwardly responding to it
what is the Gate Control Theory? (GCT)
- when the gate is open, pain sensation is allowed through
- what gate is closed pain sensation is blocked
what are some nursing applications of gate control theory?
-activity in the small-diameter nerve fibers seems to open the gate
-activity in the large-diameter nerve fibers seems to close it
what do endorphins do
attach to pain receptors and block pain sensation
what is nociceptive pain
pain stimuli from body tissue (somatic) or visceral (organs) structures
what is neuropathic pain?
associated with dysfunction of the nervous system involving an abnormality in processing sensations (associated with medical conditions rather than tissue damage)
what are the four phases of nociceptive pain in order?
- Transduction
- Transmission
- Perception
- Modulation
what happens during the transduction phase
when tissue damage causes the release of substances that stimulate nociceptors and initiates the sensation of pain
what happens during the transmission phase
involves movement of pain sensation to spinal cord
what happens during the perception phase
occurs when impulses reach the brain and pain is recognized
what happens during the modulation phase
occurs when neurons in the brain send signals back down the spinal cord by release of neurotransmitters
what are some physical factors that affect pain?
- pain threshold/pain tolerance
- age
- physical activity
- integrity of nervous system
what are some psychological factors that affect pain?
- culture
- ethnicity
- religious beliefs
- past experiences
- anxiety
-situational factors
acute pain vs chronic pain
acute: has a known cause, surgical procedure, minor burn, sprained ankle lasts hours to days
chronic pain: may have a known cause lasts months to years
what are some nonpharmacologic approaches to pain relief?
- sleep, relaxation, meditation
- meditation, music, massage
- hypnosis, biofeedback
- acupuncture, acupressure, TENS
what are adjuvants? examples?
medications that assist with other issues and therefore also decrease pain ( but they are not pain meds)
- antidepressants, anticonvulsants, muscle relaxants, and marjuana
what are some examples of opiods and nonopiods
opioids: morphine, oxycodone, hydrocodone
nonopioids: acetaminophen and NSAIDs
