Pain disorder: Difference between revisions
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Many psychological phenomenons exist in pain disorders. It is possible for one to experience pain even after the source of the nerves has been removed. For example, phantom limb pain occurs when one still feels pain in the limb that is not longer attached. Sensitization is to blame. When pain is experienced for long periods of time then the brain becomes more responsive. In most cases [[chronic pain]] is the end result. However it is possible to treat phantom limb pain. According to www.WebMD.com treatments include: heat application, biofeedback to reduce muscle tension, relaxation techniques, massage of the amputation area, surgery to remove scar tissue entangling a nerve, physical therapy, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation of the stump, neurostimulation techniques such as spinal cord stimulation or deep brain stimulation, and medications, including: pain-relievers, neuroleptics, anticonvulsants, antidepressants, beta-blockers, and sodium channel blockers.<ref>{{cite web|last=Brenman|first=Ephraim K|title=Pain Management: Phantom Limb Pain|url=http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/guide/phantom-limb-pain|publisher=The Cleveland Clinic|accessdate=27 July 2011}}</ref> |
Many psychological phenomenons exist in pain disorders. It is possible for one to experience pain even after the source of the nerves has been removed. For example, phantom limb pain occurs when one still feels pain in the limb that is not longer attached. Sensitization is to blame. When pain is experienced for long periods of time then the brain becomes more responsive. In most cases [[chronic pain]] is the end result. However it is possible to treat phantom limb pain. According to www.WebMD.com treatments include: heat application, biofeedback to reduce muscle tension, relaxation techniques, massage of the amputation area, surgery to remove scar tissue entangling a nerve, physical therapy, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation of the stump, neurostimulation techniques such as spinal cord stimulation or deep brain stimulation, and medications, including: pain-relievers, neuroleptics, anticonvulsants, antidepressants, beta-blockers, and sodium channel blockers.<ref>{{cite web|last=Brenman|first=Ephraim K|title=Pain Management: Phantom Limb Pain|url=http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/guide/phantom-limb-pain|publisher=The Cleveland Clinic|accessdate=27 July 2011}}</ref> |
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==Prevention== |
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So how do you prevent such a disorder from affecting you? It is important to address the disorder early on to catch it before it becomes chronic pain. Eliminating the pain early on will allow the brain to not increase receptors that would increase the pain. Many individuals seek medical attention from a primary physician but are later referred to a mental health professional. |
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==Conclusion== |
==Conclusion== |
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Revision as of 06:30, 27 July 2011
| Pain disorder | |
|---|---|
| Specialty | Psychiatry  |
There is very little knowledge on the specifics of Pain disorder's and all of the classifications of such disorder. Pain can be defined in a number of ways. However, pain is easily defined as "an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage"[1] The feeling of pain can be triggered anywhere in the body that there are nociceptors. Nociceptors are found in free nerve endings and are the body's pain receptors. Millions of nociceptors are found in the body. A pain disorder is more easily defined as a disorder associated to pain due to another outside cause. Pain disorders are much harder to classify compared to neurological disorders and dissociative disorders. Many phenomenons exist in a classified group such as pain disorders.
NOCICEPTOR
Nociceptor's are found in muscles, internal organs, and most commonly, skin. SKin has the most nociceptors followed by muscles then internal organs. Meaning, you feel much more pain in your skin then your muscles, and more pain is felt in your muscles then your internal organs.
Receptors found in the body can either be very quick or extremely slow. These receptors are classified based on many factors such as the time the pain last, the area the pain is coming from, the type of pain, and etc.
A-delta fibers transmit the emotional aspect of pain to the brain. [2] Acupuncture involves injecting needles into areas of the body to release endorphin's. A release of endorphin's can give an almost immediate relief of pain in the body.
C-fibers are slow reacting receptors. They have a longer lasting throbbing pain after the short, sharp, intense pain fades. As the injury heals over time, the pain lessens. Substance P is most often, but not always, produced by C-fibers. Substance P is a neurotransmitter that is present during the release of pain. They increase pain messages to the brain and stimulate the free nerve endings at the source of the pain.
GATE-CONTROL THEORY OF PAIN
The gate-control theory of pain was put together by Ron Melzack and Patrick Wall. The theory entails that “depending on how the brain interprets the pain experience, it regulates pain by sending signals down the spinal cord that either open or close pain ‘gates,’ or pathways (Melzack & Wall, 1965, 1996)”. [1] When the “gate” to the brain closes then the pain feeling subsides, if the “gate is open then the pain can be felt or even be increased. The release of endorphins acts as the body’s natural defense mechanism against pain. An increase in a positive environment can increase the release of endorphins. Many things can alter one's experience of pain, such as genetic factors, social and situational factors, and cultural learning experiences.
Genetic factors include a lack of endorphins or a poor response to positive stimuli. Social and situational factors include an environment that teaches you how to react to certain "painful experiences". Lastly, cultural learning experiences can be similar to social factors based on you learn acceptable behaviors to certain scenarios based on your culture and how they react.
Phenomenons
Many psychological phenomenons exist in pain disorders. It is possible for one to experience pain even after the source of the nerves has been removed. For example, phantom limb pain occurs when one still feels pain in the limb that is not longer attached. Sensitization is to blame. When pain is experienced for long periods of time then the brain becomes more responsive. In most cases chronic pain is the end result. However it is possible to treat phantom limb pain. According to www.WebMD.com treatments include: heat application, biofeedback to reduce muscle tension, relaxation techniques, massage of the amputation area, surgery to remove scar tissue entangling a nerve, physical therapy, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation of the stump, neurostimulation techniques such as spinal cord stimulation or deep brain stimulation, and medications, including: pain-relievers, neuroleptics, anticonvulsants, antidepressants, beta-blockers, and sodium channel blockers.[3]
Prevention
So how do you prevent such a disorder from affecting you? It is important to address the disorder early on to catch it before it becomes chronic pain. Eliminating the pain early on will allow the brain to not increase receptors that would increase the pain. Many individuals seek medical attention from a primary physician but are later referred to a mental health professional.
Conclusion
So to sum it up, there are many things psychological and environmental, that can influence our reaction to pain. Based on culture and social aspects we are taught how to react to given situations. Pain disorders are more difficult to classify because in most cases the pain is triggered by some other factor.
See also
References
- ^ a b Hockenbury & Hockenbury (2011). Discovering Psychology Fifth Edition. New York, NY: Worth Publishers. pp. 110–112.
- ^ "A-delta fibers". Farlex. Retrieved 25 July 2011.
- ^ Brenman, Ephraim K. "Pain Management: Phantom Limb Pain". The Cleveland Clinic. Retrieved 27 July 2011.
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