Understanding pain

Question 1

What is the definition of pain?

Answer 1

• an unpleasant and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage, or described in terms of such damage
• Pain is what the patient says it is and exists when s/he says it does

Question 2

What are the 5 constructs of pain?

Answer 2

• physiological (nocioception - response to painful stimuli)
• sensory - quality/intensity
• affective - unpleasantness
• cognitive - expectations
• behavioural

Question 3

What is the McGill Pain Questionnaire?

Answer 3

a three-part pain assessment tool that measures several dimensions of the patient’s pain experience

• labour pain
• clinical pain syndromes
• pain after accidents

Question 4

What are 2 other types of pain assessment?

Answer 4

• rating scales e.g numerical, categorical: pain thermometer; visual analogue scales
• faces pain scale

Question 5

What is Melzack and Walls gate control theory?

Answer 5

gate:
open-pain
closed- pain reduces
This theory suggests that the spinal cord contains a neurological “gate” that either blocks pain signals or allows them to continue on to the brain.

Question 6

what is phantom limb pain?

Answer 6

• phantom sensations experienced by almost all amputees

- persists but vividness often diminishes

Question 7

What is paraplegia?

Answer 7

paralysis of the legs and lower body, typically caused by spinal injury or disease.

Question 8

How can pain be distinguished in different people?

Answer 8

• pain thresholds: perception, tolerance
• pain durations: acute, chronic
• pain quality: superficial

Question 9

How can chronic pain threaten identity?

Answer 9

takes over – trapped
changed sense of body – old before my time
pain relief – primary goal of life
-physiological distress

Question 10

What is the definition of chronic pain?

Answer 10

defined as pain or discomfort that had troubled the participant all of the time, or on and off, for more than the last three months.

Question 11

What are examples of behaviours if you are in pain?

Answer 11

• facial expression
• para-vocalisation
• complaint
• rubbing/holding/guarding
• posture changes
• reduced behavioural repertoire
• taking painful relief

Question 12

What was Moseley’s 2007 experiment about?

Answer 12

Virtual walking

watching themselves walk reduces pain

Question 13

What is a stoical patient?

Answer 13

A patient that endures pain and hardship without showing one’s feelings or complaining
This shows why their are cultural/social differences in managing pain