pain and comfort

• pain is a complex phenomenon with multiple components that impact a person psychosocial and physical functioning
• pain is whatever the experiencing person says it is, existing where ever they say it does
• physiological aspects of pain

  • nociception
  • neurotransmitters
  • neural pathways
  • gate control theory
  • pain threshold and tolerance
• nociception - process by which the body detects and responds to noxious or potentially harmful stimuli
• neurotransmitters in pain - chemical messengers that transmit pain signals within the nervous system
• neural pathways in pain - pain signals travel through specific pathways to reach various regions of the brain
• gate control theory - theory suggesting that the spinal cord acts as a gate, modulating the flow of pain signals to the gate influencing the perception of pain
• pain threshold - the point at which an individual first perceives a stimulus as painful
• pain tolerance - maximum amount of pain a person is willing to endure
• psychological aspects of pain

  • cognitive
  • emotional
  • attention and distraction
  • memory and pain
  • sociocultural
• cognitive aspect of pain - an individuals thoughts, beliefs, and expectations can significantly impact their perception of pain
• emotional aspect of pain - fear, anxiety, and stress can amplify the perception of pain. conversely. positive emotions and relaxation techniques can reduce pain perception
• attention and distraction aspect of pain - focusing on pain sensations can intensify the experience, while distraction techniques, such as engaging in enjoyable activities or mindfulness, can reduce pain perception
• memory and pain aspect - past experiences with pain can influence current pain perception. traumatic or negative experiences may lead to heightened pain perception in similar situations
• sociocultural aspects of pain - cultural beliefs, social support, and family dynamics can shape how individuals perceive and express pain. some cultures may encourage stoicism, while others may emphasize the open expression of pain
• two types of pain

  • somatic
  • visceral
• somatic pain

  • often localized and well defined, patients can usually pin point the exact location of the pain
  • commonly described as sharp, stabbing, throbbing, or aching
• visceral pain

  • less localized and can be diffused. may migrate or radiate to different parts of the abdomen and can vary in intensity and location over time. makes it challenging for patients to precisely identify the source of discomfort
  • commonly described as crampy, dull, or aching