Pain and analgesia

Question 1

what are some methods of pain management?

Answer 1

Remove the cause
medication
regional anaesthesia
nerve blocks
physical methods - physiotherapy, manipulation, acupuncture
psychological - relaxation, hypnosis, CBT

Question 2

What part of the prostaglandin pathway do NSAIDs and steroids work on?

Answer 2

COX-1 and COX-2

steroids - phospholipids –> arachidonic acid

Question 3

What does the arachidonic acid pathway produce?

Answer 3

Inflammatory mediators - pain, swelling etc

Question 4

What do cyclo-oxygenases catalyse?

Answer 4

Conversion of arachidonic acid to biologically active prostaglandins (pain and inflammation)

Question 5

What functions do active prostaglandins have?

Answer 5

protection of the gastrointestinal tract, 
renal homeostasis, 
uterine function, 
embryo implantation and labour, 
regulation of the sleep-wake cycle and 
body temperature

Question 6

Where is COX - 1 found

Answer 6

Found in most tissues particularly in platelets, stomach and kidney.

Question 7

What are COX-1 responsible for?

Answer 7

production of prostaglandins, important for responses to circulating hormones and maintenance of gastric mucosal integrity and platelet function