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Pain
This is an abbreviated version of the complete article.*
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| Basic Facts |
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Pain is defined as the unpleasant physical and emotional feeling that occurs when the body's tissue is damaged. |
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Depending on the type of pain, symptoms can include aching, throbbing, pressure, numbness, burning, tingling, and stabbing sensations. |
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Treatment of pain depends on its origin and severity and can include medication, electrical stimulation, physical therapy, and surgery. |
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Pain is defined as the unpleasant physical and emotional feeling that occurs when the body's tissue is damaged. When the nerve cells in a person's body detect a harmful stimulus, they transmit pain messages to the spinal cord that travel to the brain, resulting in an awareness of painful sensations.
Sometimes pain can become chronic and lasts longer than normal. Pain is also characterized as nociceptive or neuropathic. Nociceptive pain is typically normal, acute, and time-limited; however, some nociceptive pain can become chronic and may be caused by conditions such as lower back problems or arthritis. Neuropathic pain is chronic and is typically the result of damage to, or dysfunction in, the nervous system.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?
The symptoms of pain depend on the type of pain, and can include aching, throbbing, pressure, numbness, burning, tingling, and stabbing sensations.
CAUSES AND RISK FACTORS
Most types of nociceptive pain are acute in nature. Their causes can include surgery (postoperative pain) and sports injuries. However, some nociceptive pain can become chronic and may be caused by conditions such as low back problems or arthritis.
Neuropathic pain is chronic. It is typically the result of damage to or dysfunction in the nervous system, such as that caused by uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, stroke, HIV, chemotherapy treatment for cancer, or trauma. Neuropathic pain can manifest in a number of conditions, including:
- Carpal tunnel syndrome;
- Complex regional pain syndrome;
- Peripheral neuropathy;
- Phantom limb pain;
- Postherpetic neuralgia; and
- Trigeminal neuralgia.
DIAGNOSIS
Because feelings of pain can be subjective, there is no single test that can diagnose pain. A diagnosis is usually made after the physician takes a thorough medical history, performs a physical examination, and asks the patient questions about the pain.
Other tests used to determine the cause of pain include:
- Electromyography, evoked potential studies, and nerve conduction studies;
- Magnetic resonance imaging; and
- X rays.
TREATMENT APPROACH
Treatment depends on the severity and cause of the pain. Options include:
- Medications;
- Physical therapy;
- Nerve blocks;
- Electrical stimulation;
- Surgery;
- Biofeedback; and
- Relaxation therapy and stress management techniques.
Medical Review Date: May 24, 2006
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