Pain Flashcards
How is pain defined?
An unpleasant sensory experience associated with or resembling actual or potential tissue damage
How long does pain need to last for it to be defined as chronic pain?
Over 3 months
What is neuropathic pain?
Pain caused by a lesion or disease of the somatosensory system
What is dysethesia?
An unpleasant or abnormal sensation e.g. Itching or burning and is a symptom of neuropathic pain
What is hyperesthesia?
Increased sensitivity to stimulation, and is a symptom of neuropathic pain
What is hyperalgesia?
Increased sensitivity to a painful stimulus and is a symptom of neuropathic pain
What is allodynia?
Feeling pain when the stimuli isn’t painful, and is a symptom of neuropathic pain
What are common sensory symptoms in neuropathic pain?
Electric shock like feelings, numbness, burning, throbbing etc…
What is the most common cause of neuropathic pain?
Diabetes
What causes neuropathy in the nerves?
Changes to the nerves
What is the cause of neuropathic pain in multiple sclerosis?
If demyelination of nerves happens in the somatosensory processing areas, it may lead to changes in sensory functioning and chronic pain
What is trigeminal neuralgia?
Facial pain due to changes in the trigeminal nerve, because of demyelination in the brain stem
What is Lhermitte’s sign?
Electric shock pain cuts down spinal cord and head flexion
What is central dynesthesis?
Deep aching pain, usually in both legs
What are the three diagnosis techniques of pain?
Visual analogue scale
Brief pain inventory
Pain detect
What does quantitative sensory testing measure?
Tests the periphery and sensitivity to different stimuli
What three types of pain does the quantitative sensory testing measure?
Cold, heat and mechanical
What is the mechanism of action of amytriptyline?
Blocks the reuptake of serotonin
What is the mechanism of action of duloxetine?
Blocks the reuptake of serotonin
What is the mechanism of action of gabapentin?
Reduces glutamate and sensory neuropeptides
What is carbamazepine used for?
Trigeminal neuralgia
What is the mechanism of action of carbamazepine?
Effects GABA
What are cannaboid receptors used for?
CB1 - cognitive effects
CB2 - pain relief
What is spinal cord stimulation used for?
Blocks pain signals from the spinothalamic tract via electrical stimulation
Helps emotional processing and the pain matrix
