Physiology And Pathophysiology Of Pain

Question 1

What is nociception

Answer 1

Physiological process by which noxious (thermal, mechanical, chemical) stimulation is communicated through the peripheral and central nervous system

Question 2

What are the different types of pain (duration & mechanism)

Answer 2

Duration: Acute, chronic
Mechanism: Nociceptive (damage to body tissue/inflammation), neuropathic (damage to nervous system), nociplastic (pain arising from altered nociception despite no evidence for disease or lesion causing pain)

Question 3

What are causes of acute pain (2)

Answer 3

Physiological
Presence of noxious stimuli

Serves protective function
Usually nociceptive

Question 4

What are causes of chronic pain (2) (what type of pain pathway)

Answer 4

Pathological
Presence of noxious stimuli isnt essential

Doesn’t serve any purpose
Can be Nociceptive, neuropathic or nociplastic

Question 5

What is nociceptive pain

Answer 5

Sensory experience occurring when a specific peripheral sensory neurone (nociceptors) respond to noxious stimuli

Typically localised at site of injury & responds to conventional analgesics

Question 6

What is neuropathic pain

Answer 6

Pain caused by a lesion or disease of the somato-sensory nervous system

Painful region may not be the same as site of injury (e.g. pain occurs in neurological territory of affected structure - nerve, spinal cord, brain)

Responds poorly to conventional analgesics

Question 7

What is nociplastic pain

Answer 7

Pain arising from altered nociception despite no evidence of actual or threatened tissue damage causing activation of peripheral nociceptors OR evidence of disease or lesion of somatosensory system

Serves no protective or adaptive function

Question 8

What is the difference between pain and nociception

Answer 8

Pain is a subjective phenomena while nociception is the physiological process