TYPES OF PAIN Flashcards
(15 cards)
What is pain?
A subjective, and unpleasant usually sensory and physical experience.
can be associated with actual or threatened tissue damage/ irritation.
What is the function of pain?
- ALERT the body to potential harm or injury. (prompting protective and preventative measures)
Protective= Stop action Preventative= Stops future action by making the action less likely to be repeated.
Name 3 types of pain
- Acute pain
- Chronic pain
- Phantom limb pain
What is chronic pain?
- A type of pain that is persistent, and long-lasting. It is often treatment resistent and may be caused by chronic conditions, nerve damage, and physical exertion.
Name 4 signs of Chronic Pain
- Long-term (several months or longer)
- Treatment resistent (hard to treat)
- Most common in females/elderly
- May be associated with a condition/disease.
What is acute pain?
A type of pain that is short-term, occuring suddenly due to a specific injury, surgery or illness.
Pain from a broken bone or after having surgery.
Name 4 signs for acute pain
- Short-term (often quickly resolved)
- Localised pain (stomach pain)
- Resolves quickly as the body heals
- Caused by injury, illness surgery
Ongoing lower back pain or pain from arthritis.
What is phantom limb pain?
A type of pain sensation felt in an amputated limb–despite not being physically present.
Name a treatment for short term pain?
Analgesic (NSAIS/OPIODS)
Psychological- attension diversion
What can be used to treat chronic pain?
Physiotherapy: To maintain mobility and reduce stiffness
Biofeedback: Teaches control over physiological functions to manage pain
What causes phantom limb pain?
neurological changes- nerve endings at the amputation site may send abnormal signals to the brain.
What can be used to treat phantomb limb pain?
A psychological and physiotherapeutic technique used to reduce PLP, by using a mirror to provide visual feedback– which tricks the brain into percieving the PL moving pain-free, which reduces pain
How does mirror therapy work?
- Mirror: A mirror is placed in a way that reflects the intact limb– creating the allusion that the missing limb is still present.
- Exercises: The patient is instructed to preform a range of movement exercises- to trick the brain into thinking the missing limb is movement and pain free (visual feedback)
MIRROR- EXERCISES
Why does mirror therapy work?
The visual feedback recieved by the patient– shows the limb moving pain-free overriding pain signals.
Which researchers proposed mirror therapy as a treatment for PLP?
Ramachandran (1996)
