Physiology of Pain & Analgesia Flashcards
What are the 4 concepts of total pain?
Physical
Social
Psychological
Spiritual
What’s the difference between acute vs chronic pain ?
Acute pain is a short acting pain that alerts us of injury where as chronic pain is a pain that persist longer than the normal healing time (3 months +)
What’s the difference between nociceptive vs neuropathic pain ?
Nociceptive pain is the bodies reaction to painful stimuli caused by damage to the bodies tissue it feels sharp, aching or throbbing and is often caused by external injury such as stabbing your toe. Neuropathic pain is caused by damage or injury to the nerves that transfer injury information between the brain and spinal chord.
What’s the difference between somatic vs visceral pain ?
Somatic pain comes from skin, muscles and soft tissues where as visceral pain comes from internal organs.
What is a noxious stimuli ?
Is actually or potentially causing damage to tissues and liable to cause pain.
What are the 4 steps to nociceptive ? ( The pain pathway)
1- Transduction
2-Transmission
3-Modulation
4- Perception
Explain the pain pathway ( Transduction, Transmission, Modulation, Perception)
Transduction - A Noxious stimuli is converted into electrical activity at sensory nerve endings.
Transmission - Signals are sent to the spinothalmic pathway.
Modulation - Once the signals reach the thalamus they are modified to either be enhanced or suppressed.
Perception - Signals are sent to the cortex where you are able to perceive and feel the pain.
What’s a A delta fibre ?
Mylenataed fibre.
Produces a quick stabbing pain.
Send a fast signal during Transduction.
What’s a c fibre ?
Smaller, non myelinated fibre.
Sends slow signals.
Produces a scull aching pain
Name 3 inflammatory mediators
Histamine
Bradykinin
Prostaglandins
Explain what arachidonic acid does to the body during inflammatory response.
Arachidonic acid is released after inflammatory response. It stimulates cox 2 enzymes to stimulate the production of prostaglandins which are responsible for pain, fever and inflammation.
What are prostaglandins?
A group of lipids that are involved in dealing with injury and illness . They control processes such as inflammation.
What are mechanoreceptor ?
Detect stimuli such as touch, pressure, and vibration.
Nociceptors detect pain.
What is nociception?
Nociception is the process by which noxious stimuli is transmitted to the brain for processing.
When prescribing analgesia what should be followed?
The WHO analgesic ladder