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Summary
This article, the third in a series of articles written by pain nurse specialists, explains the underlying physiology of pain. Nociceptive pain describes the normal physiological process relating to tissue damage, and neuropathic pain occurs when there is damage to or dysfunction of the nervous system. These two types of pain are analysed using a case study to provide insight into the multidimensional nature and unique experience of pain.
Keywords
Neuropathic pain, nociception, pain, physiology
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PAIN IS A PERSONAL, emotional and subjective experience. Each painful event is unique in terms of underlying physiology, cognitive and emotional response, and social, cultural and financial contexts. This article uses a case study to explore the physiology of pain and illustrates the factors that make pain an individual experience even if people have undergone the same procedure or have a similar injury. An understanding of the physiology of pain is essential. However, it is important to note that the interplay of numerous factors make pain a unique experience that is complex in nature. Appreciating this complexity helps nurses to address the patient's needs and promote effective pain management.
Case study
Charles is a 42-year-old man who has recently undergone an amputation of his hand following a road traffic accident. He works as a courier and was answering his mobile phone when he drove into the path of an oncoming vehicle at a road junction. He is a married father of three children and his wife works part-time on night shifts at a local residential home.
Physiology of pain
Pain has traditionally been categorised into three main types:
* Acute pain that lasts for less than three months and subsides with healing.
* Persistent or chronic pain that lasts beyond the normal period of healing or has an unidentifiable cause.
* Cancer pain associated with a malignancy.
Pain may be considered as being either nociceptive, a term that describes the normal physiological process relating...