MED/SURG CHAPTER 11 - PAIN MANAGEMENT

THE NOXIOUS STIMULI THAT ARE TRANSMITTED FROM THE POINT OF CELLULAR INJURY OVER PERIPHERAL SENSORY NERVES TO THE PATHWAYS BETWEEN THE SPINAL CORD & THALAMUS, & EVENTUALLY FROM THE THALAMUS TO THE CEREBRAL CORTEX OR THE BRAIN. IT IS DIVIDED INTO SOMATIC & VISCERAL PAIN

CAUSED BY MECHANICAL, CHEMICAL, THERMAL OR ELECTRICAL INJURIES OR DISORDERS AFFECTING BONES, JOINTS, MUSCLES, SKIN, OR OTHER STRUCTURS COMPOSED OF CONNECTIVE TISSUE

ARISES FROM INTERNAL ORGANS SUCH AS THE HEART, KIDNEYS, & INTESTINES THAT ARE DISEASED OR INJURED

USED TO DESCRIBE DISCOMFORT THAT IS PERCEIVED IN GENERAL AREAS OF THE BODY, BUT NOT IN THE EXACT SITE WHERE AN ORGAN IS LOCATED

PAIN THAT IS PROCESSED ABNORMALLY BY THE NERVOUS SYSTEM. IT RESULTS FROM EITHER THE PAIN PATHWAYS IN PERIPHERAL NERVES OR PAIN PROCESSING CENTERS IN THE BRAIN

DISCOMFORT THAT HAS A SHORT DURATION (FROM A FEW SECONDS TO LESS THAN 6 MONTHS)

DISCOMFORT THAT LASTS LONGER THAN 6 MONTHS

WHEN CHRONIC PAIN SUFFERERS HAVE PERIODS OF ACUTE PAIN

CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL INFORMATION IN THE CELLULAR ENVIRONMENT TO ELECTRICAL IMPULSES THAT MOVE TOWARD THE SPINAL CORD

PERIPHERAL SENSORY NERVES

THE PHASE DURING WHICH PERIPHERAL NERVE FIBERS FORM SYSNAPSES WITH NEURONS IN THE SPINAL CORD

REFERS TO THE PHASE OF IMPULSE TRANSMISSION DURING WHICH THE BRAIN EXPERIENCES PAIN AT A CONSCIOUS LEVEL, BUT MANY CONCOMITANT NEURAL ACTIVITIES OCCUR ALMOST SIMULTANEOUSLY

THE POINT AT WHICH THE PAIN-TRANSMITTING NEUROCHEMICALS REACH THE BRAIN, CAUSING CONSCIOUS AWARENESS

LOWERED THRESHOLD, MAY OCCUR WHEN EXCITATORY NEUROTRANSMITTERS SENSITIZE THE SPINAL CORD TO NOCICEPTIVE INPUT. THE PAIN SIGNALS BECOME AMPLIFIED

THE AMOUNT OF PAIN A PERSON ENDURES ONCE THE THRESHOLD HAS BEEN REACHED