Chronic Pain Research Paper

Chronic pain has four mechanisms. Nociception is a neural signal of threatened or damaged tissue, and is the classical pain pathway. Central pain states are thought to be caused by abnormal activity in neurons in the afferent pathway. The mechanism for this is not completely understood, and a person may perceive pain where there is no tissue damage. Behavioral pain is communicated by a

According to The World Health Organisation (1999), defined pain as an unpleasant sensory or emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage, or described in terms of such damage. Pain is traditionally described as acute or chronic pain. The prevalence of chronic pain (CP) is higher than of acute of pain, as it affects 7.8 million people of all ages in the UK (Chronic Pain Policy Coalition., 2006). The current leading cause of mortality that is accounting for 60% of all deaths is due to chronic diseases and is also a problem as causes an increasing burden on the health care service (World Health Organisation., 2007). CP can affect a person’s quality of life if managed poorly, statistics shows that 25% of people lose their job and 22% leads to depression. (Chronic Pain Policy Coalition.,

Chronic pain is described as a persistent pain active in the nervous system for months to even years (WebMD), that can vary

Pain is one of the most influential symptoms that leads individuals to reach out to health care professionals to seek relief. Pain is subjective and unique to each person. Some individuals may have a higher pain tolerance than others. According to Frandsen (2014), “Pain is an unpleasant, sensory, emotional sensation associated with actual or potential tissue injury” (p. 889). Pain may be caused by a variety of elements, such as tissue or nerve damage and surgery. There are three main categories that pain is classified by, which are origin, duration, and cause. The main focus of this paper is on acute pain, chronic pain, and phantom pain. It is crucial to know how to assess each type of pain, as well as how to enhance it, or decrease the pain.

The physical aspect of pain can be healed over time, whereas the mental can’t. Mental pain require professional help in order to help cope, and in some cases mental injuries can last a lifetime. This type of pain is usually associated with emotional distress. Despite all this, pain is a survival skill that our ancestors devolved in response to the dangers they endured millions of years ago. This skill is called fight-or-flight

“Acute pain is short term and self-limiting, often follows a predictable trajectory, and dissipates after an injury heals” (Jarvis, 2012). In contrast, “chronic (persistent) pain is diagnosed when the pain continues for 6 months or longer. It can last 5, 15, or 20 years and beyond” (Jarvis, 2012). “Chronic pain does not stop when the injury heals. It persists after the predicted trajectory. It outlasts its protective purpose, and the level of pain intensity does not correspond with the physical findings” (Jarvis,

As a Northwestern University professor of Anesthesiology, Honorio T. Benzon, defines chronic pain is “a demoralizing state that confronts individuals not only with the distress created by the symptoms but also with many other ongoing difficulties that compromise all aspects of their lives” (Benzon). Therefore, chronic pain is rooted in a variety of neurologic functions, integrated from the brain that affects the individual internally and externally. According to David B. Reuben MD, a professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine,

Acupuncture is gaining popularity as numerous claims are being made to its validity and effectiveness. Although many studies and experiments regarding acupuncture have been done, the scientific basis of the principles of this alternative approach still remains unclear (http://www.health.org/pubs/acu-nih.htm).

In order to fully answer this question, it is important to understand the definition of pain. The International Association for the Study of Pain defines pain as “an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage or described in terms of such damage” (Mersky and Bogduk ed 1994). The physiological function of the pain sensory system is protective in nature, to shield the body from actual or potential tissue damage. Pathological pain, on the other hand, is described as “spontaneous pain, hyperalgesia and allodynia, that persist for years or decades after all possible tissue healing has occurred” (Coderre et al 1993).

Pain is a protective biological mechanism experienced by all people, an indication that damage has or may have occurred to tissues and nerves which fluctuates based on the severity of damage (Raja, Hoot & Dougherty, 2011, p. 1; Lynch, Craig & Peng, 2011. p. 3). It is an unpleasant, subjective experience both emotionally and sensory that varies for every person. There are many factors that can increase the perception of pain experienced including emotional, social, spiritual and functional circumstances (Lynch, Craif & Peng, 2011, p.3). According to Dr John Keltner, pain therapist (as cited in Schleifer, 2014, p.36) there is myriad brain states relating to pain and pain is a diverse, varied experience and new aspects are constantly being discovered. Generally, two types of pathophysiological pain are recognised; nociceptive and neuropathic.

Pain can be characterized by its duration (from momentary to chronic), location (e.g., muscle, viscera), or cause (e.g., nerve injury, inflammation). Characterization of pain by duration may be arbitrary (i.e., when does pain become chronic?), but is useful because most significant human pain conditions are long-lasting, whether referred to as persistent or chronic. (National Academies Press (US); 2009.)

There are several point in the pain pathway where the signal can be modify your nervous system is made up of two main parts your brain and your spinal cord. Doctors and other professional use a person pain as a clue in figuring out what's wrong about 70% of people with chronic pain treated with pain medication. While care has grown more sophisticated the most effective care still is not widely available.

Living with constant pain can be debilitating and it can be a huge detriment in one’s life. Chronic pain can impair an individual’s ability to participate in almost every day life regimes. Research has shown that chronic pain negatively impacts an individual’s ability to maintain social connections (Lennon, Link, Marbach, & Dohrenwend, 1989), employment and ability to undertake activities of daily living (Andersson, 1999). Chronic pain is significantly related to a range of mental health difficulties, as well as reduced subjective well-being. A meta-analysis of chronic pain research suggests that there is an interaction between a patient’s symptoms of depression and the severity of their chronic pain (Tunks, Crook, & Weir, 2008), and that chronic

2. A theory based on several studies suggests that acupuncture stimulates the body to produce natural pain-killing substances.

Chronic pain is defined as a pain that doesn’t go away for a long time. The pain can last for weeks, more than 3 months, years, and might make someone feel hopeless. Chronic pain does not relief with regular pain medication. It is important to address chronic pain because is physically and psychologically stressful. Its persistent discomfort can lead to irritation and frustration with the person’s self and with other people. Pain affects not only mental health but interfere also with someone’s sleep pattern.