Presents with pain Flashcards
What is the definition of pain?
- Unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage, or described in terms of such damage
- Occurs as a consequence of activity in a number of neural pathways
What factors can influence pain?
- attitudes and beliefs
- cultural factors
- psychological state
- social environment
- age and gender
Describe the mechanism of pain
- complex
- neural and chemical mechanisms
- impulse -> nociceptors -> dorsal horn -> ascending pathway (spinothalamic tract) -> brain
- also connects with limbic system (emotions)
- brainstem (ANS responses)
Describe nociceptors
- not all body structures have them
- may perceive mechanical, chemical and thermal stimuli
- are free nerve endings
- not all perceive all stimuli
- 2 types: A-delta and C fibers
Describe A-delta fibers
- large
- myelinated fibers
- quick - “fast pain”
Describe C fibers
- small
- non-myelinated
- slow - “slow pain”
List the types of pain
Somatic: • superficial -skin and subcutaneous • deep - skeletal muscles, joints, tendons, fascia • occasionally referred Visceral: • from organ • usually referred
What is referred pain?
- felt at a site different from its point of origin
- diffuse and poorly defined
- because the viscera synapses on same spot of dorsal grey horn as that skin
List examples of organs that refer?
- myocardial infarction
- gallbladder
- stomach & duodenal
Describe acute pain
- caused by injury to tissues
- activation of nociceptors
- short
- goes when pathology resolves
- protective mechanism
- maybe anxiety/emotions
- reflex muscular spasm
- ANS responses (increase resp, HR, BP)
Describe chronic pain
• induced by injury
• long
• variable severity
• influenced by:
-type, frequency of stimulation, functioning of sensory pathway and higher centres
• accompanied by depression, sleep disturbance, anorexia
Describe neuropathic pain
- pain occurring directly as a result of trauma of diseased neurones, without involving nociceptors
- pressure, physical injury, chemical injury, infection, ischaemia, inflammation
Hypoalgesia
reduced pain sensation
Analgesia
absence of pain
Allodynia
pain after non-noxious stimulus
What is a full blood count?
Basic screening, common • Hb • RBC count • hematocrit • MCH, MCV • WBC, and differential • platelet count
What does increased neutrophils mean?
bacterial infection
What does increased lymphocytes mean?
viral infection
What does increased monocytes mean?
severe infections
What does increased eosinophils mean?
parasitic infestation or allergies
Increased basophils
very rare
An increase in the total number of circulating white blood cells is?
leucocytosis
An increase in the total number of circulating neutrophils is?
neutrophilia
An increase in the total number of circulating lymphocytes is ?
lymphocytosis
An increase in the total number of circulating eosinophils is?
eosinophilia
A decrease in the number of circulating white blood cells is?
leucopenia
A decrease in the number of circulating neutrophils is?
neutropenia or agranulocytosis
What is an ECG?
• electrocardiogram • recording of electrical activity of heart • electrodes arranged as leads • electrocardiography • PQRSTU segments • diagnose: -cardiac arrhythmia -loaclise myocardial hypertrophy, ischaemia, infarction -electrolyte imbalance -pericarditis -pulmonary emboli
What is a stress ECG?
• treadmill or bicycle • can screen for coronary artery disease • 60-70% accurate • done with echocardiography • Investigates: -ischaemic heart disease -arrhythmias -exercise related hypertension -monitoring -determination of safe exercise levels
What is a Holter monitor?
- small portable equipment carried for 24 hours
- also keep diary of activities and problems (pain, palpitations, breathlessness)
- match with ECG
- determines intermittent silent arrhythmias and mild ischaemia
- help find cause of palpitations
What further investigations can we do after ECG is normal?
- Echocardiography
- myocardial perfusion scintigraphy
- coronary artery calcium scoring by CT
- selective coronary angiography
- MRI (#1)
List some causes of children get abdominal pain?
- constipation
- gastroenteritis
- mesenteric adenitis
- psychosomatic
- food allergy
- inguinal hernia
- object
- trauma
- worms
- appendicitis
What are the causes of abdominal pain in the oesophageal system?
- hiatus hernia
- GORD
- esophagitis
- tumours
- ulcers
What are the causes of abdominal pain in the hepatobiliary system?
- cholelithiasis
- infection (hepatitis, cholecystitis)
- biliary tract obstruction
- tumours
- right heart failure
What are the causes of abdominal pain in the intestinal system?
- inflammatory (ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s, appendicitis, diverticulitis)
- tumours
- intestinal obstruction
- IBS
- malabsorption syndrome
What are the causes of abdominal pain in the pancreatic system?
- pancreatitis
* malignancy
What are the causes of abdominal pain in the renal system?
- ureteric calculus
- pyelonephritis
- cystitis
- tumours
What are the causes of abdominal pain in the gastro-duodenal system?
- gastritis
- ulcers
- tumours
What are the causes of abdominal pain in the cardiorespiratory system?
- inflammation (pneumonia, pleurisy)
- ischaemic heat disease
- carcinoma
- pneumothorax
- pulmonary embolism
- dissecting aortic aneurysm
What are the causes of abdominal pain in the gynaecological system?
- endometriosis
- infections (salpingitis, endometritis)
- dysmenorrhea
- ectopic pregnancy
- ovarian cysts
- tumours
What are the causes of abdominal pain in the testes/epididymis?
- epididymitis
- orchitis
- torsion of testes
What are some causes of middle abdomen pain?
- acute appendicitis
- mesenteric adenitis
- gastritis
- mid-gut referral from small intestine
- skin or muscle
What is the possible significance of pain worse on movement, coughing, sneezing?
- msk
* peritoneal involvement
What is the possible significance of pain Bettie with lying skill?
- msk
* peritoneal involvement
What is the possible significance of intermittent or colicky pain?
hollow organ • biliary tract • intestine • ureter • uterine tubes
What is the possible significance of pain accompanied by dysuria, frequency, polyuria?
urinary tract involvement
What is the possible significance of pain in upper abdomen radiating through to back?
pancreatic disease
What is the possible significance of pain in right upper abdomen radiating around to the back and between the scapulae?
gall bladder / biliary tract disease
What is the possible significance of pain around umbilicus?
- small intestine
* proximal large intestine
What is the possible significance of pain with tenderness on palpation, guarding and rigidity?
peritoneal involvement
What is the possible significance of pain in abdomen and pain or discomfort in sctotum/testes?
- inguinal hernia
* orchitis
What is the possible significance of upper abdominal pain in conjunction with respiratory symptoms, no tenderness, but worse on deep inspiration?
pleuritic pain
• pneumonia
What is the possible significance of pain over entire abdomen plus tenderness, guarding and rigidity?
generalized peritonitis
What is the possible significance of burning pain, in dermatomal distribution, with sensitivity of skin to touch?
- neurogenic -herpes zoster
* referred from vertebrae
What is the possible significance of pain improved by leaning forward?
• pancreatic or msk
What is the possible significance of pain prior to or accompanied by menses?
dysmenorrhoea
What is the possible significance of pain accompanied by constant writhing and movement or patient?
obstruction of hollow viscera
What is the possible significance of pain in iliac fossa in middle of menstrual cycle?
mittleschmerz: ovulatory pain
What is McBurney’s point?
- junction of lateral and middle thirds of a line joining the right ASIS and the umbilicus
- means acute appendicitis
List the tests that can be done for acute appendicitis?
- McBurney’s point
- psoas sign (retrosecal)
- obturator sign (retrosecal)
- exquisite tenderness on right side of rectal exam
What is a normal body temperature? How does this differ when taken in different parts of the body?
- 37
- higher in rectum
- now we use armpit
- most accurate is oesophagus
What is the normal heart rate in an adult?
70-100 bpm
What is the normal respiratory rate in an adult?
12-20 breaths per minute