The Forsaken Vital Sign: Pain
The creeping sense that something is wrong, the discomfort of being unable to express how it makes life unbearable to be told nothing is wrong yet know deep down nothing is right. This is the reality of many people living with chronic pain or even isolated episodes of pain.
The feeling is often dismissed as there are no clear physical signs or lab results to prove it. Leaving an invisible struggle neglected and unvalidated. Pain takes many forms and evokes varied responses. This article looks deeper into the complexities of pain.
What is Pain?
Pain is a sensory experience that signals potential harm to the body, often indicating that something may be wrong. It is typically an unpleasant sensation that can be described as a prick, tingle, sting, burn, or ache. Pain can vary in intensity, ranging from sharp to dull, and may occur intermittently or persist as a constant discomfort (1).
Pain is an individual experience that can manifest in different ways. Describing the type and intensity of pain you’re feeling can be challenging, especially when multiple types of pain are present at once. This can make effective communication with your healthcare provider even more difficult.
By understanding the types of pain, you can describe your symptoms accurately, which helps your provider develop a more tailored and effective treatment plan.
What are the Different Types of Pain?
Acute Pain
Acute pain is a sudden, intense sensation that lasts less than six months. It serves as a warning signal, alerting the body to potential danger or compromised health. While often assumed to be mild and short-lived, acute pain can be highly complex. It arises from specific causes, such as fractures, burns, cuts, labor, and childbirth. It generally subsides once the affected area has been properly treated.
Chronic Pain
Chronic pain is caused by an underlying issue that lasts longer than 6 months. It is often due to a health condition, such as arthritis, fibromyalgia, or a spine condition (2).
Nociceptive Pain
Nociceptive pain is the most common type and occurs when nociceptors' specialized pain receptors in the body are activated by tissue damage. These receptors are found throughout the body, particularly in the skin and internal organs. When these nociceptors detect potential harm, such as from a cut or injury, they send electrical signals to the brain, interpreted as pain.
This type of pain typically occurs in response to injury or inflammation and can be acute or chronic. It can also be categorized as either somatic or visceral pain.
Visceral Pain
Visceral pain originates from damage or injury to internal organs. It is usually felt in the trunk, including the chest, abdomen, and pelvis. Unlike somatic pain, it can be difficult to pinpoint the exact location of visceral pain, which is often described as pressure, aching, squeezing, and cramping. In some cases, you may experience additional symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, changes in body temperature, heart rate, or blood pressure.
Somatic Pain
Somatic pain results from the pain receptors in your tissue, rather than your internal organs. This includes skin, muscles, joints, connective tissue, and bones. It’s often easier to pinpoint the location of somatic pain rather than visceral pain. It usually feels like a constant aching or gnawing sensation (3).
Top 5 Pain Management
Managing pain, whether acute, subacute, or chronic, often involves medications as part of the overall care plan. While it’s important to get acute pain under control quickly and effectively, it is also crucial to have a clear strategy to regularly check if the treatment is working and gradually reduce and stop medications when the time is right.
Non-Opioid Medications
Acetaminophen
For patients with mild to moderate pain, acetaminophen is considered for initial management. Use the lowest effective dose and stop therapy if there's little or no effect.
Higher doses, chronic use, increasing age, renal dysfunction, and alcohol use increase the risk of hepatic toxicity.
Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)
It is considered for patients with mild to moderate musculoskeletal pain and inflammation. Use the lowest effective dose for the shortest duration to reduce adverse events and reassess effectiveness within the first few weeks (4).
Opioid Therapy
Prescription opioids are powerful pain-reducing medications that include oxycodone, hydrocodone, and morphine among others. They have benefits as well as potentially serious risks. The use of opioids has been a controversial issue for many clinicians. There are national guidelines as well as regulatory authority directives that give clear guidance about the use of opioids.
To some clinicians, these appear excessively harsh and restrictive while others may appreciate the specificity of the guidance. Some clinicians are concerned that, while essential for some patients, opioids can also be misused, leading to devastating consequences. That is why natural pain management remains a vital alternative offering a beacon of balance amidst the controversies that can sometimes hinder compassionate patient care.
Natural Alternatives for Pain Relief
One of the most effective ways to naturally reduce pain is to find methods to release endorphins, which help alleviate stress and promote a sense of well-being.
Endorphins are the body’s natural pain relievers. Produced by the hypothalamus and pituitary gland in response to pain or stress, these peptide hormones alleviate pain and promote well-being. You can increase your body’s endorphin release by engaging in these activities.
Exercise
Engaging in moderate-intensity activities, such as brisk walking or other forms of aerobic exercise, is most effective for triggering the release of endorphins.
Acupuncture
Stimulating pressure points through acupuncture can trigger the release of endorphins. Fine needles are inserted at specific locations on the body to promote this effect.
Meditation
Deep breathing and focused mindfulness not only calm the mind but also help ease pain by promoting the release of endorphins.
Sexual Intercourse
Endorphins play a key role in the euphoric feelings many experiences after sex. Experts suggest that these hormones also encourage the release of other hormones linked to feelings of love and connection.
Playing Music
Singing, dancing, or playing instruments like the drums do more than entertain. They stimulate the release of endorphins, which research shows may help increase pain tolerance.
Laughter
A hearty laugh can significantly boost your mood along with releasing endorphins. Laughter also affects serotonin and dopamine levels, further enhancing your emotional well-being.
Ultraviolet Light
Spending time in the sun often brings a sense of happiness, as ultraviolet light triggers the release of beta-endorphins in the skin (5).
There are also other options you can consider, depending on what’s causing the pain, such as:
- Heat therapy and cold compresses
- Herbal remedies and supplements
- Swapping more anti-inflammatory foods into your diet
- Guided imagery, is a nonpharmacological pain relief technique centered on helping your brain change your perception of pain.
That’s not to say that your pain is in your head but rather that your mind can get used to sending pain signals, long after they’re useful and you can work on rewiring those impulses.
Finally
That said, there are significant gaps in the research surrounding pain and its management. Pain is complex, intensely personal, and not fully understood – often leaving us with incomplete answers. Being on the receiving end of care, with lingering questions and limited solutions, can be frustrating and disheartening. Yet, the future holds immense possibilities for discoveries, more effective treatments, and deeper insights into the human experience of pain. Know that you are seen and what we’ve explored here offers a glimpse into the tools and methods available to ease the burden, however imperfect. The future still holds great promise and countless possibilities.
Edited by: Damilola Elewa
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