Pain

Question 1

What was the old perception of pain? What is the new thinking?

Answer 1

Old perception: signal sent to brain directly by single nerve

New: Nociception -complex pathway that transmits or processes info about pain

Question 2

Transmission and inflammation:

Conduction:

Transmission:

Modulation:

Perception:

Answer 2

Transmission and inflammation:
- mediators activate nociceptors causing nerve impulses to travel to brain for modulation

Conduction

• action potentials

Transmission

Modulation
- endogenous opiate systems

Perception
-signal being realized as pain

Question 3

What are the different kinds of pain? Where are they located at? How long do each one last? What is the quality of pain?

Answer 3

Somatic

• localized pain
• brief, rhythmic
• sharp, achy

Visceral

• referred from another site
• long, plateau, rhythmic
• dull, aching

Neuropathic

• projected along a nerve
• paroxysmal or constant
• burning, numbness, shock

Question 4

How do you evaluate for pain?

Answer 4

Palliative or precipitating factors
Quality of pain
Region of pain
Subjective description of severity
Time-related nature of pain

Question 5

Barriers to pain management in the health care system?

Answer 5

No pain team
Lack of knowledge
Inadequate funding