CHRONIC PAIN MANAGEMENT

Chronic Pain Management

Chronic Pain Management

Introduction

A 52 years old Helen was suffering from a severe chronic pain because of the broken back since ten years. At the age of 23, she fell from a ski lift in Mt. Hood, Ore.; Helen was diagnosed with the broken left arm as well mild fracture in foot. As time passed her arm healed; and foot fracture was also recovered, but excruciating back pain developed that made her difficult to sleep and hampered mobilisation. According to her she was a teacher, so few doctors suggested that the problem is due to standing the whole day long. Helen further says “Others told me it was all in my head. For years, I left doctors' offices feeling desperate for help.” The pain got worse during her 30s. One day she woke up with extreme pain in her back and was not able to walk due to the intensity of pain. Her husband took her to the orthopaedic surgeon. Doctor suggested X-rays that showed three old fractures in the spine of Helen. Her foot X-ray was also done and doctor found that still there is a gap between the foot bones, that is her body weight is not easily balanced by her feet. This could also be the reason of back pain. When doctor showed her X-ray she cried and said that someone had finally given her an answer.

Pain Complaints are the foremost reason for visiting the physician. Pain affects patients more than heart disease, diabetes, and cancer combined. Pain is characterized as nociceptive (visceral and somatic) that occurs due to the stimulation or activation of neuropathic or specialized receptors, depends on a primary dysfunction of the central nervous system or peripheral nervous system. Pain is often due to injury that is caused by for example a broken bone, infection or laceration. This type of pain can be severe, but it does not remain last very long. This is called the acute pain. Acute pain generates from the specialized nociceptive nerve endings and is defensive by warning of actual or potential injury (Rashiq et al. 2008, pp. 213-219).

Chronic pain is defined as pain that lasts for more than 30 days, more than the normal healing time. If the pain persists even after the injury has healed or if it remains for longer than the expected, it is transformed into long lasting pain, termed as chronic pain. The pain can be categorized as as neuropathic, malignant or non-malignant. Arthritis, headaches, cancer pain, back pain and neuropathic pain, which results from nerves injury, are the common types of chronic pain.

Chronic Pain can be irritating and frustrating; it can become the focus of your life time. Work, relationships and other activities of life can be affected (Otis, 2007, pp. 16-19). That is why its management should be considered as the most important thing so that one can enjoy his life as wanted. In order to manage the pain there are few points to be ...