Pain

Question 1

What is the definition of pain?

Answer 1

An unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with, or resembling that associated with, actual or potential tissue damage

Question 2

What is chronic pain?

Answer 2

Pain that lasts or recurs for more than 3 months.
Can be further subclassified - write list

Question 3

Examples of pain scales

Answer 3

Numerical rating scale: pain intensity 0-10 scale
Visual analogue scale: pain rated on 10cm line
Verbal rating scale: pain scale using verbal descriptors
Facial pain scale: commonly used in paeds
Pain thermometer

Question 4

Chronic pain assessment tools

Answer 4

McGill pain questionnaire
Neuropathic pain scale
Brief pain inventory

Question 5

What is a common regimen for breakthrough pain

Answer 5

One sixth of total daily modified release dose
E.g. 20mg morphine when 60mg MR bd

Question 6

Name adjuncts in cancer pain

Answer 6

Steroids
- Reduce inflammation and oedema
- Useful for liver capsular distension pain

Bisphosphonates
- Inhibits osteoclast activity, inhibit bone resorption
- Useful for bone pain due to mets and vertebral collapse

Question 7

What are the principles when assessing patients with back pain

Answer 7

1. Excluding a life-threatening or systemic disease
2. Establishing whether there is a nerve root involvement

Question 8

Name causes of non-specific low back pain

Answer 8

1. Discogenic
2. Sacroiliac joint pain
3. Lumbar facet joint pain

Question 9

What is trigeminal neuralgia

Answer 9

It is a condition charecterised by unilateral, recurrent paroxysms of facial pain in the distribution of one or more divisions of the trigeminal nerve, with no radiation beyond