Pain

Question 1

List some considerations related to pain

Answer 1

• major presenting symptom
• affects performance
• pain severity may not reflect injury severity
• treat injury but pain persists

Question 2

Explain the difference between pain signals.

Answer 2

A-delta fibre = myelinated (fast), initial sharp pain
C fibre = non-myelinated (slow), dull throbbing pain that follows

Both signals travel through peripheral nerve –> neurones –> dorsal horn of SC

Question 3

What is the pain signal pathway after SC received it?

Answer 3

SC to thalamus.
Thalamus sends signals to several brain regions for
- touch
- emotion
- physical reaction
- memory

Sensory cortex (postcentral gyrus // LAT parietal love) decides what to feel = “pain”

Question 4

Why is it so special when the brain decides the pain?

Answer 4

Central sulcus of brain decides.

Pain is “normal” if the brain “thinks” part of the body is in danger and needs protecting, brain will make that part of body “hurt” to further protect.

Question 5

Children/adolescents have a choice in deciding further play/training after injury. True or False

Answer 5

False

Question 6

The amount of pain experienced does not necessarily match amount of danger body tissues are exposed to. True or False

Answer 6

True

Question 7

How does pain depend on context?

Answer 7

Hurts more if… told will increase intensity / pair wiht heat or red light

Based on psychological influences:
* age
* how parents react to the kids injury / child will react based on parents reaction
* whether clinician treating patient is male or female
* around team mates
* wanting to keep training/playing (may be for “work”)
* how deep the pain is
* any neural damages (sudden pain then none)