Pain Flashcards
1
Q
What is nociceptive pain?
A
- arises from actual or threatened damage to non-neural tissue
- d/t activation of pain receptors (nociceptors)
- normal processing of a pain signal (somatosensory nervous system is functioning normally)
1
Q
What is neuropathic pain?
A
- caused by a lesion or disease of the somatosensory system (CNS or PNS)
- CNS causes = post-stroke pain, spinal cord injury
- PNS causes = nerve damage d/t surgery, chemo, viral infection, and diabetic neuropathy
2
Q
What is nociplastic pain?
A
- pain that arises from the dysfunction of processing pain
- no clear evidence of actual or threatened tissue damage causing the activation of peripheral nociceptors
- no evidence of disease or a lesion of the CNS or PNS
3
Q
What is nociception?
A
The processing of noxious stimuli through a normally functioning nervous system.
- noxious stimuli are capable of causing tissue injury: mechanical, thermal, chemical
4
Q
Describe the physiology of pain.
A
- Transduction - conversion of noxious stimuli to neuronal action potential at the nociceptor (‘free’ nerve endings of sensory neurons).
- Transmission to spinal cord and brain - Movement of AP from peripheral nociceptor to the dorsal horn of spinal cord, and then up ascending tracts to the brain.
- Central perception - interpretation and conscious awareness of pain.
- Spinal modulation - descending pathways from the brainstem act oat the dorsal horn to modulate the pain signal.
5
Q
Describe the role of inflammatory mediators in pain.
A
- Sensitization - brings the neuron closer to threshold (inflammatory mediators and neuropeptides)
- Activation - excites the neuron generating an AP
6
Q
Define hyperalgesia and allodynia that occurs with sensitization.
A
Hyperalgesia = pain response to a noxious stimulus increases
Allodynia = pain perceived in response to a non-painful stimuli
