pharmacotherapeutics analgesics

Question 1

what is pain

Answer 1

an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage

Question 2

pain classification

Answer 2

somatic, visceral or neuropathic
acute vs chronic

Question 3

why is pain important

Answer 3

protective function, alerts about a problem in the body
protects against against further injury e.g. generation of withdrawal reflexes
aids healing, forces the body to stay at rest

Question 4

why do we treat/control pain

Answer 4

decreases the negative impact on the body
decreases the systemic complication associated with pain
decreases the likelihood of chronic pain development
improves outcomes of treatment
increase patient satisfaction
increases productivity and improves quality of life

Question 5

methods to relieve pain

Answer 5

remove peripheral stimulus
interrupt the nociceptive input
stimulate nociceptor inhibitory mechanisms
modulate central appreciation of pain
block or remove secondary factors maintaining pain