Pain Flashcards
What is pain?
An unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage or described in terms of such damage
Does pain need nociception?
No
What is a nociceptor?
A sensory neurone that responds to damaging stimuli by sending ‘possible threat’ signals to the spinal cord and brain
Name 2 types of nociceptors
Delta fibres
C fibres
Describe a delta fibres
Small/medium diameter
Myelinated
fast pain
Describe C fibres
Small diameter
Non-myelinated
Slow pain
What can mechanoreceptors also be called?
A beta fibres
Describe a beta fibres
Large diameter
Myelinated
Mechanical stimuli
How is the limbic system involved in registering pain?
Involved in our emotional and behavioural responses to pain
Name 4 pain types
Acute and persistent/ chronic
Nociceptor pain
neuropathic pain
Nociplastic pain
Describe a simple spinal reflex/response
Sensory receptor responds to a stimulus by producing a generator or receptor potential
Sensory neuron -> axon conducts impulses from receptor to integrating centre
Integrating centre -> one or more regions within the CNS that relay impulses from sensory motor neurons
Motor neuron -> axon conducts impulses from integrating centre to effector
Effector -> muscle or gland that responds to motor nerve impulses
What is pain gate theory?
The theory suggest that spinal cord contains a neurological gate that can either block pain signals or dull down the pain signals and allow them to carry on to the brain
Theory proposes that following an injury pain signals are transmitted via spinal cord up to the brain but before the information is transmitted to the brain, nerve gates are encountered which decide whether it can go up to the brain
What is pain gate effected by?
State of mind
Encephalitis and endorphins
Central control
What is chronic/persistent pain?
Pain lasting beyond the time of healing an injury and frequently there may not be any clearly identifiable cause
What is the cause of acute pain?
Normal response to injury or medical condition
Signal of tissue damage or underlying medical condition
What is the duration of acute pain?
Short term
What is the duration of chronic pain?
Lasts longer than 3 months
What is the treatment for acute pain?
Often responds to traditional medical treatment
What is the response to chronic treatment?
Minimal or no response to traditional medical treatment
