Pain Management
Medical Author: Standiford Helm II, MD
Medical Editor: William C. Shiel, Jr., MD, FACP,
FACR
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Pain...Oh, What a Pain!
Medical Author: William C.
Shiel, Jr., MD, FACP, FACR
 Pain is an unpleasant sensation
in animals that is caused by actual or perceived injury to body
tissues and produces physical and emotional reactions. Presumably,
pain sensation has evolved to protect our bodies from harm by
causing us to perform certain actions and avoid others. Pain might
be called a protector, a predictor, or simply a hassle. In this
article, I will discuss some basic concepts of pain.
We all experience pain to greater or lesser degrees at
various points of our lives. It is said that pain is the most common reason
patients seek medical attention. But, each of us perceives a given pain stimulus in our own unique
manner. The intensity of the response to a pain stimulus is largely subjective,
meaning the severity of the pain can most accurately be defined by the person
with the pain, rather than by other observers.
Our individual pain perception can vary at different
times, even in response to the identical stimulus. For example, an athlete
during competition may not be able to feel the tissue injury of a cut or a
bruise until the competition has finished. We may feel more or less pain
depending on our mood, sleep pattern,
hunger, or activity.
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Introduction to pain management
Pain management can be simple or complex,
depending on the cause of the pain. An example of pain that is typically less complex would
be nerve root irritation
from a herniated disc with pain radiating down the leg. This condition
can often be alleviated with an epidural steroid injection and
physical therapy. Sometimes, however, the pain does not go away. This can
require a wide variety of skills and techniques to treat the pain. These skills
and techniques include:
All of these skills and services are necessary because pain can involve many
aspects of a person's daily life.
How is pain treatment guided?
The treatment of pain is guided by the history of the pain, its intensity,
duration, aggravating and relieving conditions, and structures involved in
causing the pain. In order for a structure to cause pain, it must have a
nerve supply, be susceptible to injury, and stimulation of the structure should
cause pain. The concept behind most interventional procedures for
treating pain is that there is a specific structure in the body with nerves of
sensation that is
generating the pain. Pain management has a role in identifying the precise
source of the problem and isolating the optimal treatment.
Fluoroscopy is an X-ray
guided viewing method. Fluoroscopy is often used to
assist the doctor in precisely locating the injection so that the medication
reaches the appropriate spot and only the appropriate spot.
Next: What are the basic types of pain? »
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Pain Management
Neck Pain »
What is neck pain? What causes neck pain?
Pain located in the neck is a common medical condition. Neck pain can come from a number of disorders and diseases of any tissues in the neck, such as degenerative disc disease, neck strain, whiplash, a herniated disc, or a pinched nerve. Neck pain is also referred to as cervical pain.
What are other symptoms that are associated with neck pain?
Neck pain is commonly associated with dull aching. Sometimes pain in the neck is worsened with movement of the neck. Other symptoms associated with some forms of neck pain include numbness, tingling, tenderness, sharp shooting pain, fullness, difficulty swallowing, pulsations, swishing sounds in the head, dizziness or lightheadedness, and gland swelling.
What are the structures of the neck?
There are seven vertebrae that are the bony building blocks of the spine in
the neck (the cervical vertebrae) that surround th...
Read the Neck Pain article »
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