Module 4 part 2 Flashcards
CH 7 Pain
CH 7
pg 190
What is the 5th vital sign?
Pain.
A delta fibers
FAST
A-delta fibers are the larger diameter, myelin-covered nerve fibers that quickly travel through the nervous system. Pain will feel sharp, stinging, and acute. Pain does not radiate, so the patient can identify its location.
C fibers
SLOW
C fibers are smaller in diameter, thinner, unmyelinated nerve fibers that travel slowly through the nervous system. The patient will experience diffuse, dull, burning, or aching pain that may radiate and is difficult to locate.
What is gate theory
Theres a gate that stops if the message from being transmitted to the brain.
Pain impulse opens. Other sensory activity such as massage can close the gate.
Who is Ronald Melzack and Patrick Wall
developed gate theory
What are the gates exactly
Substantial gelatinosa cells in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord act as “gates” to regulate the flow of the impulses.
Where do we interpret pain
higher cortical areas of the brain
IN THE CNS
process is interpreted according to the individual’s genetic make-up, life experiences, beliefs, and actual and perceived tissue damage
What is modulation
chemical system or third set of neurotransmitters that increases or decreases the transmission of pain impulses in the spinal cord.
Who/what is the interpreter vs the signal transmission reciever?
The thalamus is the part of the brain that receives the pain information from the spinal cord; the cortex of the brain interprets the sensation of pain.
What is pain threshold in the brain
Pain threshold is the level at which the brain first perceives a stimuli as painful. This is a subjective experience.
Pain perception is influenced by
Gender, stress level, and one’s genetic make-up all contribute to sensitivity to pain and the pain experience.
Studies show women exhibiting greater pain sensitivity and lower pain threshold compared with men
Bias toward gender in postop patients pain
Male patients were seen as more tolerant of postoperative pain than female patients and thus required less nursing attention. As a consequence, nurses might assess female surgical patients inaccurately or judgmentally. Nurses label female patients as “demanding” or “oversensitive” without intending to be judgmental.
How does culture affect pain perception
- cultural endorsement of stoicism versus expressivity
- cultural conceptualizations and descriptions of pain
- cultural beliefs about managing pain
- culturally prescribed roles for patient and healthcare professionals.
Define intractable vs acute, intermittent, chronic
- acute (short term)
- chronic (long term) - continues longer than three months or past the time of normal tissue healing.
- intractable (constant and treatment resistant)
- intermittent (comes and goes)
