Pain Meds Flashcards
what are the 4 steps of nocioception
- transduction
- transmission
- modulation
- perception
transduction
noxious stimuli (chemical, thermal, mechanical) are transformed into electrical signals. these are blocked by local anesthetics
transmission
conduction of impulses from the peripheral pain receptors to the spinal cord. these are blocked by neurotransmitters, natural opioids, alternate nerve pathways
modulation
amplification or suppression of pain impulses by neurons in the spinal cord. they change over time due to pain mediators and spinal cord modulation
perception
processing and recognition of pain in the brain. these are blocked by general anesthetics
somatic pain
the pain of skin, SQ/SC, muscle, bones, and joints
visceral pain
the pain of the visceral organs and is often cramping or burning in nature
how is intensity characterized
mild, moderate, moderate-severe, and severe
referred pain
pain that is felt in another part of the body. Ex: pain in the leg but affected or injured your back
hyperesthesia
refers to an increase in sensitivity to stimuli like sound and touch. (hypersensitive)
neuropathic pain
(nerve pain) pain due to damage of a peripheral nerve or the SC itself; this type of pain is often poorly responsive to medications
what are some common signs of pain
- vocalization
- guarding or self-mutilation
- attitude change
- appetite
- palpation on site of pain
multimodal analgesia
takes advantage of synergistic effects obtained bu combining 2 or more classes of analgesic drugs to alter more than one phase.
Ex: preemptive NSAID and opioid administration
inflammation
the body’s protection against damage
the five cardinal signs
heat, swelling, pain, redness, loss of function
