I&P Pain Flashcards
Definition of pain
Pain is an unpleasant and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage
Different ways to look at pain
Physiological (Nocioception - processing harmful/pleasant stimulus)
Sensory - the quality, intensity of pain they experience
Affective - unpleasantness e.g. fearfulness of it
Cognitive - expectations, mental models of the pain
Behavioural - vocalising their pain, posture, facial expression etc.
Pain Asessment
Pain thermometers
Visual analogue scales
McGill Pain Questionnaire
Faces pain scale - paticularly useful for paedeatrics!
McGill Pain Questionnarie
Patients circle words to describe pain! Description show sensory, affective, evaluative and temporal aspects of pain
Views of pain
Descartes Model (Lay view) or Gate Control Theory (melzack & walls)
Descartes Model
Lay View - pain is a sensory experience
We have a reflex like response to pain
Single pathway that registered pain
Gate Control Theory
Melzack & Walls
Argues 2 sets of fibres for pain
C fibres thin and respond quickly to pain, A-beta fibres detect touch and vibration
Descending inhibitory systems form a gate!! Only feel pain when the gate is open, a-beta fibres an close the gate!
Allows us to see pain as a perception, but no physical evidence of the gate!
Shows individuals are active in pain but there are multiple causes
Phantom Limb Pain
Phantom sensations in almost all amputees
Phantom pain of paraplegia - where virtual walking shown on screen –> shows a marked reduction of pain after 15 days of walking for 10 mins a day
Pain threshold
the tolerance
Cultural difference in pain
No differences in perception
Higher levels of tolerance shown
Pain quality
Superficial, deep, referred
Coping with acute pain
Anaesthesia
Prepare for surgery - giver information
Simple behavioural techniques - rewarded for positive well talk
Chrnoic pain
Can threaten identity and take over!
Maintaining cycle of pain
