Professional Documents
Culture Documents
What is it?
Pain…
What is the real definition of pain?
• Nutrients
• Oxygen
The Stage of Exhaustion
(homeostasis vs. death)
Pain Signal ---> Excites the SG+ --->Opens Gate ---> T-cells fire ---
> Pain signal sent
Non-painful Stimulus ---> Excites the SG - --->Closes Gate ---> T-
cells inhibited ---> Reduces pain signal
Treatment of Pain
• Historically, undertreated or untreated
• Not considered a priority
• Minimal knowledge base effective
interventions by healthcare providers
• Fear of addiction
• Fear of misdiagnosis
• Fear of weakness
Why have people continued to
suffer?
• The study of pain is relatively new
• Lack of knowledge concerning harmful effects of
unrelieved pain
• Personal biases
• Populations at high risk:
– Cognitively impaired
– Very young, very old
– Trauma, hemodynamically unstable
“he can’t even talk, he’s not in pain”
“what if we bottom out the B/P?”
“it’s not that important right now, wait
until surgery”
You—the patient
• Be knowledgeable
• Ask your physician/surgeon BEFORE your
surgery
• If not satisfied, get second opinion
• Take pain seriously
• Take analgesics when you need them, don’t
save them for later
• Avoid peaks and valleys
Pain
African Proverb