Prepare a short “lecture” of not longer than 5 minutes (200 words), explaining to a patient what pain is, its possible causes, why different people experience pain differently and what the generally important principles of pain management and referral involve. The videos above will also be of value to complete this assignment.

Pain is described as an uncomfortable sensory and emotional experience associated with tissue damage (actual or potential). Pain occurs in an acute(renal colic) and chronic form (cancer pain).

Pain is caused by a specific injury or medical condition while in other instances it may be idiopathic.

Pin thus may originate due to headaches, toothache, sore throat, stomach cramps, muscle cramps, cuts, burns, bruises etc while other forms may originate as a result of illnesses, such as the flu, arthritis, endometriosis, and fibromyalgia. “Depending on the underlying cause, you may develop other symptoms as well. For example, these may include fatigue, swelling, nausea, vomiting, or mood changes” (Gabbey, 2021).

“The reason why some people are more sensitive than others comes down to how our body modulates pain, from the skin to the brain, and the structure of the brain itself”. Sensory receptors, known as nociceptors,  detect an unpleasant stimuli. “These are transformed into pain signals that are then conducted throughout the central nervous system” (Brancatisano, 2016). Certain people have a higher tolerance to pain than others.

The principles of pain management lie on the basis of providing treatment that reduces the pain while minimising the side effects and being able to allow patients to life with a good quality of life. It is also important that maintain acute pain so that it doesn’t progress to a state of chronic pain.

Referral:

‘Injuries that cause immediate swelling and severe pain, those that create popping or crunching noises, or those that cause an inability to support weight are all situations where you need prompt medical attention. Leaving the injury despite the pain may cause additional damage” (Valley Pain Centers, 2021) .

References:

Brancatisano, E.  2016.  Why Do Some People Feel Pain Differently? https://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/2016/10/10/why-do-some-people-feel-pain-differently_a_21577905/#:~:text=The%20reason%20why%20some%20people,nociceptors)%20detecting%20an%20unpleasant%20stimuli.  Date of access: 23 June 2021.

Gabbey, A.E.  2021 .Everything You Need To Know About Pain.  https://www.healthline.com/health/pain#treatment  Date of access: 23 June 2021.

Valley Pain Centers.  2021.  How Long Should You Power Through Pain Before Seeking Medical Help?  https://www.valleypaincenters.com/blog/how-long-should-you-power-through-pain-before-seeking-medical-help#:~:text=Injuries%20that%20cause%20immediate%20swelling,pain%20may%20cause%20additional%20damage.  Date of access: 23 June 2021.