Pain Flashcards
(177 cards)
Is pain limited to actual tissue damage?
Nope… Can be “potential tissue damage” as well.
1 / __ people over the age of 65 in Canada deal with chronic pain.
1/3
How can pain manifest into negative outcomes on one’s life?
-Decreased QOL
-Mental Health Toll
-Increased Suicide Risk
-Reduced Cognitive Function
-Work / School Absence
Define Nociceptive Pain.
-Caused by bodily tissue damage.
-Described as “sharp”, “aching”, “throbbing” pain.
-Can arise from direct tissue injury, disease, inflammation.
Define Neuropathic Pain.
-Caused by direct damage to the Nervous System.
-Typically originates in the Peripheral Nervous System (can be Central).
-Numbness, tingling, burning, shooting or radiating pain.
Define Nociplastic Pain.
-Caused by functional Neuron changes (as opposed to direct nervous system damage).
-Description of the pain is similar to Neuropathic.
Is Visceral (ie. Internal Organ) Nociceptive Pain typically localized?
Nope… Hard to localize where the pain is coming from. Somatic Nociceptive Pain is much more easily localizable.
What are the fast nerve fibers (as it pertains to nociceptive pain conductance)? Slow nerve fibers?
Fast: A-Delta
Slow: C
What is the brain’s relay station in the Ascending Nervous System?
Thalamus
What substances strengthen electrical pain signals coming down from the Descending Neural Pathway? Inhibit pain signals?
Strengthen: Substance P, Glutamate
Inhibit: GABA, NE, Serotonin, Endogenous Opioids
Nociceptor activation involves Voltage-Gated ___+ Channels.
Na+
Given that A-Delta nerves are fast, what type of pain would you expect them to respond to?
Sharp, Localized Pain
Given that C nerve fibers are slow, what type of pain would you expect them to respond to?
Achy, Poorly Localized Pains
Within what part of the Spinal Cord do we see A-Delta & C nerve fiber synapses? What excitatory neurotransmitters are released here?
Dorsal Horn; Glutamate & Substance P.
N-Type Voltage-Gated __+ Channels regulate the release of excitatory neurotransmitters at the Dorsal Horn of the Spinal Cord.
Ca2+
What would be some examples of conditions that cause Peripheral Neuropathic Injury? Central Neuropathic Injury?
Peripheral: Post-Herpetic Neuralgia, Diabetic Neuropathy, Chemo-Induced Neuropathy.
Central: Post-Ischemic Stroke, MS.
Is Neuropathic Pain associated with a noxious stimuli?
Nope!
Nociplastic Pain is defined by the term “_________”, (ie. Nervous System Rewiring) which causes mismatched pain stimulation / inhibition & leads to increased firing of Dorsal Horn Neurons.
neuroplasticity
What would be examples of predisposing risk factors for somebody who might experience Nociplastic Pain?
-Family Hx Pain
-Hx Recurrent Pain
-Mental Health Disorder
-Abuse / Prev. Trauma
What is the typical duration (in mths) of Acute Pain?
< 3 - 6mths
Acute Pain is typically what form of pain (ie. Nociceptive / Neuropathic / Nociplastic)?
Nociceptive, sometimes Neuropathic
What are some systemic responses to Acute Pain?
-HTN
-Tachycardia
-Sweating
-Pupillary Dilation
-Skin Whitening
What are some potential signs one might be experiencing Cauda Equina Syndrome?
-Bladder / Anal Sphincter Dysfunction
-Neurologic Dysfunction in Legs
-Major Motor Weakness in Lower Extremities
-Saddle Anesthesia
What other red flags associated with back pain would warrant automatic referral?
-Presence of possible infection (ie. Patient experiencing chills / has fever).
-Back pain beyond 3mths in length; AM Stiffness > 30mins; Night Pains (possible inflammatory condition).
-Severe pain lying down / worst at night (possible cancer).
-Major trauma present (possible fracture).