How do we define “pain”
Pain has survival value for all organisms
Pain vs. Nociception
Pain = conscious experience
–brain activity due to noxious (+) & uses sensory, emotional and cognitive processes
Nociception = information about a noxious stimulus is conveyed to the brain
–Total sum of neural activity that occurs prior to the cognitive processes that enable humans to ID pain
**Nociception is not sufficient alone for the experience of pain
Terminology Pain
Terminology Nociception
–Electrochemical activity of nerve r/c & fibers caused by (+) that is potentially dangerous to the organism
Terminology Nociceptor
–nerve r/c preferentially sensitive to nociceptive stimulation or (+) that becomes nociceptive if it persists
Terminology Nociceptive
–A nociceptive (+) is by definition stimulation of sufficient intensity to activate nociceptors, and even produce a tissue lesion.
Terminology Algia
–Localized pain w/o presuming its cause (i.e.“lumbalgia”).
o Often used as an affix to indicate an increase or decrease in pain (hyperalgesia or hypoalgesia).
Terminology Antalgic/analgesic
reduction of pain.
Terminology Paresthesia
spontaneous or provoked unusual sensation (not painful).
Decreased Sensations (4)
1) Hypoesthesia
2) Hypoalgesia
3) Anesthesia
4) Analgesia
Hypoesthesia
decrease in sensitivity to non-noxious stimulation
Hypoalgesia
decrease in pain in response to a typically noxious stimulus
Anesthesia
loss of sensation
Analgesia
absence of pain following a typically noxious stimulus
Increased Sensations (3)
1) Hyperesthesia
2) Hyperalgesia
3) Allodynia
Hyperesthesia
increase in sensitivity to non-noxious stimulation
Hyperalgesia
exaggerated response to typically noxious stimulation, refers to an unusually low nociceptive threshold
Allodynia
pain produced by typically non-noxious stimuli
Pain: General Features
1) Pain is universal & context-dependent
2) Pain is context-dependent
o Ex: young man undergoing painful tribal rituals
o Ex: pain associated with a clinical pathology
3) Pain is clinically significant
o Part serious illness
o 2nd most common reason to seek medical attention
-#1 reason for chiropractic care
Nociception: General Features
Paradoxical Qualities of Pain
pain = minimization of tissue damage
BUT…
chronic pain = decrease quality of life
The Paradox of Pain (3)
Goals of the Circular Pain Model
1) Explain multidimensional nature of pain experience
2) Emphasize complexity & interdependence of components
3) Provide model of pain that helps comprehend diff components of pain
o = appropriate treatment of all aspects of pain