Pain is an unpleasant or uncomfortable sensation and emotional experience that is associated with actual or potential tissue damage. Pain can be caused by numerous instances, it can due to a specific injury or medical condition. In some cases, the cause of pain may be unknown. Some cause of pain include, stomach aches and cramps, muscle cramps or strains, cuts, burns, bruises, bone fractures, or headaches.  

Different people can experience pain in a different manner, that is the level of pain I feel with a minor injury can differ to the level of pain another person feels with the same injury. This difference in pain experience is due to a few factors such as, there are biological factors that amplify pain signals that are sent to the brain, when nerve fibres are activated repeatedly the brain may decide to become more sensitive to adequately protect the body. Psychological factors also play a role, where nociception and the brain are influenced by a persons emotions, memories and their perception of pain to influence how much pain they experience, environmental factors may also play a role in how we experience pain. Lastly, social factors such as support by family and friends may also influence how we experience pain.

The World Health Organization created a 3-step treatment ladder in the management of pain. The first step is the treatment of mild pain using drugs such as Paracetamol or Ibuprofen. With moderate pain or if the pain has not resolved, the use of weak opioids, such as Tramadol or Codeine, with or without the addition of Paracetamol or Ibuprofen is recommended. Lastly, in the case of severe pain stronger opioids such as Morphine should be considered.  

Anekar, A.A., Cascella, M. 2021. WHO Analgesic Ladder. NCIB. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK554435/#__NBK554435_dtls__ Date of access: 28/05/2021

Brand, L.Prof.  2021.  Study Unit 11: Opioid Analgesics and Antagonists. Unpublished lecture notes on efundi, FKLG 312.  Potchefstroom: NWU.  [PowerPoint presentation]

Erickson, A. 2021. Everything You Need to Know about Pain. Healthline.com. https://www.healthline.com/health/pain Date of access: 28/05/2021

Pate, J.W.  The Mysterious Science of Pain. TedEd. [YouTube video] https://www.ted.com/talks/joshua_w_pate_the_mysterious_science_of_pain/transcript Date of access: 28/05/2021