Understanding pain its types and management
According to medical terminology pain is an unpleasant feeling that typically indicates a sickness or injury. In general, pain is your body’s way of alerting you to a problem .This is why suffering exists .It is designed to cause discomfort so that you would realize you need to do something if you are ill or wounded. When anything that causes physical discomfort to our body, our brain initiates the pain response. When you touch something hot your body automatically triggers a pain reaction and signals you to withdraw your hand and take steps to cool your skin. Pain is perceived differently by different persons. it is important to know about pain its types and management.
What is pain?
Pain is an unpleasant feeling consisting of physiologic and psychological responses associated with noxious stimuli that cause actual or potential tissue damage. Despite having similar causes no two people experience pain in the same way. The best indicator of pain is an individual report of their own suffering because pain is a highly objective feeling.
Pain results from injection between nerves, brain and spinal cord. Pain is initiated by nerve fibers in your body ,these nerve fibers send pain signals to the brain, then the brain acts to make you aware of the pain. Because every person’s body is different, their nerve fibers and brain can react differently to the same stimuli.
Types of Pain
It is important to understand different types of pain and their symptoms.
Following are the main types of pain :
Acute Pain:
This pain usually comes on quickly and has an identifiable cause . Most often the cause is an injury to some bodily tissues. Other times it lasts under 6 months and is relieved with the treatment to the cause of the pain. Initially sharp, piercing acute pain is present, then later becomes dull. Some of the causes of acute pain are:
● Fractured bones
● Surgical procedures
● Dental surgery
● Labor and lady
● Cuts
● Burning
Chronic Pain
Chronic pain is defined as pain that persists for longer than 6 months even after the initial injury has healed. It can be mild or severe or can last for years. Sometimes there is no obvious cause of chronic pain, but it can also be brought on by previous trauma or damage. Chronic pain main suffer the quality of life if left untreated. Individual living with chronic pain me also develop an underlying anxiety or depression.
Chronic pain may also be accompanied by the following additional symptoms:
Tight muscles
Insufficient energy and restricted mobility
Common examples of chronic pain include:
● Recurring Headaches
● Pain from nerve damage
● Ache in low back
● Pain from Arthritis
● Pain from fibromyalgia
Nociceptive Pain:
The most prevalent kind of pain is nociceptive pain. This pain is brought on by activating the Nociceptors, which are tissue injury pain receptors. Nociceptors are found in the whole body particularly in internal organs and skin. When an injury or cut occurs on the body they are stimulated and send electrical impulses to the brain ,the brain in response makes you feel pain. Any injury or inflammation typically initiates this type of pain.
There are two types of nociceptive pain
● Visceral pain
● Somatic pain
Visceral pain
When an injury or damage occurs to internal organs of your body , you experience visceral pain. It is felt on your trunk, specific to the chest ,abdomen and pelvis areas. Visceral pain is often difficult to locate. Visceral pain is also explained as:
Pressure
Cramping
Aching
Squeezing
Other symptoms that may accompany visceral pain include nausea or vomiting and changes in temperature, pulse or blood pressure.
The following are some instances so what can result in visceral pain:
● Gallstones
● Appendicitis
● Irritable bowel syndrome
Somatic pain
The stimulation of pain receptors in your tissues instead of internal organs causes somatic pain. Since somatic pain can occur in your skin, muscles, joints and connective tissues. It may typically be more localized than visceral pain. Somatic pain is characterized by a persistent aching or gnawing feeling. It can be further divided into superficial and deep categories:
For example, deep somatic pain might be a tear in tendon and superficial somatic pain results from a canker sore on your inner cheek. Some examples of somatic pain include:
● Fractures of the bones
● Tense muscles
● Connective tissue disorders like osteoporosis
● Skin or bone cancer
● Cuts, scrapes and burns on skin
● Joint pain including arthritis
Neuropathic Pain:
When damage or malfunction of the nervous system occurs ,you experience neuropathic pain. This occurs as a result of the damage or dysfunction of nerves sending the pain signals. This pain doesn’t seem to be related to any particular injury ,rather it seems to be sudden. An individual may experience pain in response to cold air or clothing rubbing against the skin.
One way to define neuropathic pain is:
Burning
Paralysis
Numbness
Electric shocks that are stabbing, tingling and shooting. One common cause of neuropathic pain is diabetes. This pain can also result from the following other causes of nerve damage or dysfunction:
● Chronic alcohols use
● Infections
Inflammation or compression of spinal cord
● HIV related illness
● Carpal tunnel syndrome and shingles
● CNS disorders like multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s
Pain Management
Studies reveal that a person’s wellness can alter the feeling of pain .we should learn the techniques to cope with pain to enhance the quality of life. Important pain reducing techniques include:
● Pain medications
● Physical forms of therapy including heat or cold packs, massage and exercise
● Psychological therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy meditation and relaxation techniques
● Mind and body forms of therapy including acupuncture
● Support groups in community
Pain management without medications:
There are many non pharmacological methods to assist you manage pain. These are following:
● Use ice packs as soon as possible after an injury to minimize swelling. For the treatment of persistent joint and muscle problems heat packs work better.
● Walking ,stretching and Aerobic exercises are examples of physical therapy that can help you feel better and lessen discomfort. Another physical therapy is massage which is best suited for soft tissue injuries.
● Cognitive behavior therapy is a type of psychologically based therapy teaching you how to change how you think and then feel and behave about pain. This is a crucial strategy to learn for the self management of chronic pain.
● Acupuncture, a part of traditional Chinese medicine, is also used to relieve pain.
Pain medicines:
Types of pain relief medicines include the following
● Paracetamol-recommended as the first line medicine that works to relieve short term pain.
● Aspirin provides leave of fever and Mild to moderate pain.
● Non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs NSAIDs that relieve pain and reduce inflammation.
● Opioid medicines are used for severe or cancer pain.
● Local anesthetics are used when nerves are easily accessible.
