Pain Concept Review Flashcards

Flashcards covering the definition, types, assessment tools, and pharmacological management of pain based on lecture notes.

Pain (McCaffery & Beebe Definition)

Whatever the person experiencing it says it is and existing whenever the person says it does.

Pain Perception

The actual recognition of pain that occurs when the brain translates nerve signals as 'pain'.

Pain Threshold

The point (lowest intensity) at which the brain recognizes the stimulus as pain.

Pain Tolerance

The intensity or duration of pain that a patient is able or willing to endure.

Acute Pain

Pain resulting from an acute injury with rapid onset and short duration (typically less than 3 months) that subsides when the injury is healed.

Chronic Pain

Persistent pain that lasts longer than 3 months, may be episodic or continuous, and is not always associated with an identifiable cause.

Nociceptive Pain

Normal pain transmission in response to noxious stimuli such as sunburn, surgery, or trauma.

Somatic Pain

Sharp, cutting, burning, localized pain occurring in bones, joints, muscles, or connective tissue.

Visceral Pain

Vaguely localized pain with a diffuse, aching quality associated with organs.

Referred Pain

Pain perceived in an area distant from the site of the stimuli.

Radiating Pain

Pain that extends from the source to an adjacent area of the body.

Neuropathic Pain

Episodic or continuous pain resulting from a nerve injury or pathology that persists even without painful stimuli.

Psychogenic Pain

Perceived pain with no known physical cause, which may be caused, increased, or prolonged by mental, emotional, or behavioral factors.

Breakthrough Pain

A spike in pain that typically occurs when chronic pain already exists.

PQRST Mnemonic

A pain assessment tool where P is Provocation, Q is Quality, R is Region, S is Severity, and T is Time course/temporality.

SOCRATES Mnemonic

A pain assessment tool representing Site, Onset, Character, Radiation, Associations, Time course, Exacerbating/relieving factors, and Severity.

Acetaminophen

A non-opioid analgesic and antipyretic with no anti-inflammatory action; daily limit is $3000\,mg$ ($3\,Grams$).

NSAIDs

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that reduce pain by interfering with prostaglandin synthesis; can cause increased bleeding and gastric ulcers.

Salicylism

An overdose of salicylates characterized by tinnitus, sweating, headache, dizziness, and respiratory alkalosis with rapid breathing.

Reye's Syndrome

A potential complication that makes aspirin contraindicated for children under the age of 18.