Pain And Management

Question 1

The complexity of pain

Answer 1

Pain is unpleasant and is uniquely experienced by each individual
It cannot be defined, identified, measured by the observer
Is the most commonest reason to seek medical attention
Why is pain so complex

Question 2

What are the physiological effects of pain

Answer 2

Increased heart and respiration rate
Elevated BP
Pallor or flushing
Dilated pupils
Diaphoresis (sweating)
Potential to exacerbate or mask other injuries

Question 3

What is somatogenic pain

Answer 3

There is a cause for the pain

Question 4

What is psychogenic pain

Answer 4

There is no obvious cause for the pain

Question 5

What are the 3 categories of acute (sudden) pain

Answer 5

Somatic - superficial
Visceral - internal organs (can radiate)
Referred - removed or distant from origin site of pain

Question 6

What is chronic pain

Answer 6

Prolonged and lasts longer than 6 months

Can be persistent or intermittent

Question 7

Chronic pain - the persistent pain cycle

Answer 7

Persistent pain - being less active - loss of fitness - negative thoughts - sleep problems/tiredness - stress/anxiety - weight gain - more negative thoughts - time off work/money worries

Question 8

Pathway of pain (in Sarah’s words!!!)

Answer 8

Feel pain
Pain receptors send message up spinal cord to brain
Brain releases endorphins back down spinal cord
To where the pain started

Question 9

Threshold and tolerance of pain

Answer 9

Threshold - is the point which a stimulus is perceived as pain

Tolerance - is the duration of time or the intensity of pain than an individual will endure before initiating a response

Question 10

Pain assessment barriers

Answer 10

Fear of unpleasant procedures
Medication
Prolonged hospitalisation
Distress to relatives
Subjectivity

Question 11

What does SOCRATES stand for?

Answer 11

S - site
O - onset
C - character (what sort of pain)
R - radiates 
A - associated symptoms
T - time/duration
E - exacerbating or relieving factors ( does anything make it better or worse)
S - severity

Question 12

Child pain assessment

Answer 12

F - face (expressions)
L - legs (relaxed or kicking out)
A - activity (acting normal or rigid/jerking)
C - cry (no cry or screaming)
C - consolability (content or unable to comfort)

Question 13

What is the definition of pain?

Answer 13

Whatever the experiencing person says it is, existing whenever and wherever the person says it does.