Pain Management Flashcards
What is the primary function of small- and large-diameter nerve fibers in pain physiology?
Conduct and inhibit pain stimuli toward the brain
What role does the gating mechanism play in pain transmission?
Determines the impulses that reach the brain
What are the two types of nerve fibers involved in pain transmission?
- Small-diameter nerve fibers
- Large-diameter nerve fibers
What is transduction in the pain process?
Transduction is the activation of pain receptors, converting painful stimuli into electrical impulses that travel to the spinal cord.
What is transmission in the pain process?
Transmission is the conduction of pain sensations along pathways (A-delta and C-delta fibers) from the site of injury or inflammation to the spinal cord and higher centers.
What is perception of pain?
Perception of pain is the awareness of the characteristics of pain and how an individual may perceive that pain, which can vary based on pain tolerance.
What is modulation in the pain process?
Modulation is the inhibition or modification of pain sensation, regulated by neuromodulators such as endorphins, dynorphins, and enkephalins.
What are the two classifications of pain according to duration?
Acute, Chronic
Acute pain is typically short-term and often related to injury, while chronic pain persists over a longer duration.
Name the types of pain classified by localization/location.
Localized, Somatic, Visceral, Cutaneous, Referred
Each type of localization refers to the area of the body affected by the pain.
Fill in the blank: Pain that lasts for an extended period is classified as _______.
Chronic
Chronic pain is often defined as pain that persists for 3 months or longer.
True or False: Somatic pain is typically associated with internal organs.
False
Somatic pain usually originates from the skin, muscles, or joints, while visceral pain comes from internal organs.
What type of pain is described as coming from a source that is not the area of pain felt?
Referred
Referred pain is perceived in a location different from the site of the painful stimulus.
What is pain considered to be?
Subjective
Pain is a personal experience that varies from person to person.
What behaviors might indicate a patient is in pain?
Restlessness, grimacing, moaning, guarding
These signs can be misunderstood as uncooperativeness.
What is one of the 3 P’s that should be assessed during hourly rounding?
Pain
Pain recognition is crucial in patient assessments.
What are the two key questions to ask about the duration of pain?
How long has this pain been going on? How often are you feeling this pain?
Duration helps classify pain as intermittent or constant.
What is the significance of knowing if pain radiates?
It may indicate the etiology of the pain
Radiating pain can help in diagnosing the underlying cause.
What are the types of pain based on etiology?
- Nociceptive pain
- Neuropathic pain
- Nociplastic pain
Each type has different origins and implications for treatment.
What is nociceptive pain?
Pain that occurs during the normal pain process
It is typically a direct response to injury or illness.
What is neuropathic pain?
Pain caused by a disease or lesion of the nervous system
An example is phantom pain.
What is nociplastic pain?
Chronic primary pain that is not classified as nociceptive or neuropathic
Often results from misdiagnosis and treatment delays.
What characterizes intractable pain?
Resistance to interventions and treatments given
This pain is difficult to manage even with medical help.
What is phantom pain?
Pain caused by a limb that is no longer there
It highlights the complexity of pain perception.