What is Pain?
Pain is a symptom which indicates an underlying physical ailment. It is one of the ways the body indicates something is wrong. Pain has consequences beyond the initial physical symptom. The two types of pain are acute and chronic pain. Possible treatment interventions for pain include analgesics, ice and emotional help. The treatment may vary depending upon whether it is acute or chronic pain.
The Effects of Pain
Pain can affect a person in every aspect of life including other physical symptoms as well as impacting emotional well-being and the individual’s lifestyle. Other symptoms which may occur along with the pain are weakness, constipation, diarrhea, headache, nausea, drowsiness, dizziness and perspiration. Pain can induce emotions such as irritability, crying, anger, mood swings, depression and suicidal thoughts. Pain can have an impact on mobility, work, relationships and activities of daily living.
Acute Pain
Pain which lasts less than 3 months is known as acute pain. Another defining characteristic of acute pain can be tissue damage. When a physical disorder or injury occurs, sensory receptors called nociceptors are activated. The nociceptors are what triggers the pain process. Acute pain usually goes away after the cause is diagnosed and treated. However, treatment measures such as pain relievers can be beneficial.
Chronic Pain
When the pain lasts longer than 3 months, the pain is now referred to chronic pain. While a cause may be easily identifiable in acute pain, there may be increased difficulty in pinpointing the cause of chronic pain. The European Federation of IASP Chapters (EFIC) reports that chronic pain affects 50% of the elderly population living in community. The percentage jumps even higher to more than 80% for elderly people who choose to live at home.
Common chronic pain conditions include cancer pain, headaches, rheumatoid arthritis, pain affecting the back, shoulder and neck, osteoarthritis, chronic regional pain syndromes, post-thoracotomy pain, myofascial pain syndromes and phantom limb pain. Other sources include pain from neuropathy, pain due to shingles or post-herpetic neuralgia, diabetic neuropathy, trigeminal neuralgia, diabetic neuropathy, chronic visceral pain syndrome, angina pectoris, post-mastectomy pain and pain associated with temperomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder.
Before an appropriate treatment plan can be executed, the cause of the chronic pain needs to be diagnosed. Once the cause is identified, possible treatment may include pain medications, acupuncture, brain stimulation and local electrical stimulation. Pain relievers may be prescribed for chronic pain as well. Caution should be taken as certain pain relievers can be habit-forming and addictive.
Due to the chronic nature, the pain may never subside completely. This is why it is vital for the patient to work as a team with the doctors to focus on the person’s unique needs which relate to the cause of the pain as well as other conditions such as emotional support and how it affects the workplace and relationships. Every individual is unique and needs to have a specific treatment plan correlated to them. The patient needs to be proactive in learning about the medical condition as well as possible treatment options to help the chronic pain.
Pain is the body’s reaction mechanism to some problem occurring in the body. It signals the need for medical advice and attention. Having a painful medical condition can interfere with every aspect of a person’s life, including the emotions, other physical symptoms, work, mobility and relationships. The pain may be temporary and last less than 3 months which is known as acute pain. However, the pain may be chronic and last a lifetime. There are treatment remedies which can help both types of pain. It is important to see a doctor in order to identify the cause of the pain so appropriate treatment can be implemented. Educating oneself about the cause of the pain as well as the treatment can help the patient maintain an active participatory role in the relationship with the doctor as well as the implementation of the treatment.