pain Flashcards

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1
Q

what is the definition of pain?

A

an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage

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2
Q

define acute pain

A

a useful biological response provoked by injury or disease, which is of limited duration
responses are usually adaptive

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3
Q

define chronic pain

A

pain persisting for 6 months or more and tends not to respond well to pharmacological treatment

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4
Q

Briefly describe the gate control theory (background) of pain

A
  • mechanism in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord
    -pain signals carried by nociceptors to the brain to be processed
    -pain signals can either be let through or restricted - ie the gate can be opened or closed
  • open gate - pain signals sent through and pain is perceived
    -closed gate - pain signal is restricted
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5
Q

what area specifically in the dorsal horn is the pain gate mechanism located?

A

the substantial gelatinosa

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6
Q

Describe the 3 primary neutron types involved in the pain gate theory? (myelination? diameter? speed of impulse?)

A
  • A beta fibres - large diameter, have quick transmission of impulses due to myelination
    -A delta fibres- smaller fibre diameter, thinly myelinated
    -C fibres - similar to A delta fibres, slowest transmission of impulse since they are not myelinated
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7
Q

what stimuli activate the 3 primary neuron’s?

A

-A beta fibres - non noxious stimuli eg light touch, pressure and hair mvt
- A delta fibres - strong noxious stimuli eg pain and temperature, sharp intense sensations related to potential or actual damage to tissues
-C fibres - carry info about dull, throbbing pain, prolonged sensations

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8
Q

how does anxiety and depression affect pain?

A

-decrease pain tolerance
- increasing reports of pain

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9
Q

what is the anti pain fibre?

A

the A beta fibres - they are activated through rubbing, massage and heat and they act to inhibit the perception of pain

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10
Q

what are examples of pain assessment?

A
  • verbal rating scales - using words ranked in order of severity
    -visual analogue scale
    -Mcgill pain questionnaire consists of 20 descriptor scales
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11
Q

what are the modern aims of pain management?

A
  • reduce pain perception
    -improve coping ability
    -increase functional ability
    -decrease drug reliance & distress
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12
Q

how does attention / focusing on pain affect the pain experience ?

A

focusing on pain increases the experience of pain

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13
Q

how do we manage acute pain? first line vs second line

A

1st line - generally pharmalogical
2nd line - psychological intervention - hypnosis, increasing patient control, distraction, relaxation

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14
Q

what are the 5 D’s that can happen as a result of people experiencing chronic pain?

A

-Dramatisation of complaints
-disuse through inactivity
-drug misuse through over medicating
-dependency on others
-disability due to inactivity

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