Chronic Pain

Question 1

What is pain?

Answer 1

An unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with, or resembling that association with, actual or potential tissue damage.

Question 2

What is nociception?

Answer 2

The neural process of encoding noxious stimuli.

Question 3

What is acute pain?

Answer 3

• Pain of recent onset.

- Useful protective function to warn of danger or injury.

Question 4

What is chronic pain?

Answer 4

• Pain persisted past the normal time of healing.

Question 5

What are OT strategies to help chronic pain management?

Answer 5

• Activity management (activity analysis, skill development, activity adaptation, problem-solving, prioritising, activity pacing).
• Education, training of coping skills, relaxation training, stress management, environmental modification.

Question 6

What is the mature organisms model?

Answer 6

• Recognises multiple causes from biological, psychological, and sociological domains.
• Strongly acknowledges interactions between brain and body.

Question 7

What are the key features of the mature organisms model?

Answer 7

1. Inputs.
2. Scrutinising.
3. Outputs.

Question 8

What are the inputs of the mature organisms model?

Answer 8

• Nociception from tissue damage.
• Proprioception by identifying that something was not right when performing movements.
• Senses: Visual, auditory, touch.
• Uncomfortable and incorrect positioning.

Question 9

What is scrutinised in the mature organisms model?

Answer 9

• Experiences.
• Beliefs.
• Knowledge.
• Culture.
• Motor patterns.
• Past successful behaviours.
• Past successful behaviours observed in others.

Question 10

What are outputs of the mature organisms model.

Answer 10

• Pain.
• Motor changes.
• Behaviour changes.
• Stress system activation.

Question 11

What are categories of psychosocial yellow flags?

Answer 11

• Attitudes and beliefs.
• Behaviours.
• Compensation issues.
• Diagnosis and treatment.
• Emotions.
• Family.
• Work.