The document discusses the physiological and psychological components of pain. It defines pain and outlines its pathway through the body, including its transmission through the nervous system and the factors that can influence pain perception. The document also examines different types of pain like acute, chronic, and neuropathic pain. It reviews various treatments for pain, including medications, holistic approaches, and physical activity. The consequences of ignoring pain are also mentioned.

1. The Physiological and Psychological Components of Pain
Courtney McCarthy
Longwood University

2. Objectives
• Defining pain
• Pain’s pathway through the body
• Components of pain
• Types of pain
• Treatments of pain
• Consequences of ignoring pain

3. What’s your 10?

4. Defining Pain
 Physiological and psychological
 Self defense
 Behavioral adaptation
 Movement restraint
Pain is the number one complaint of older
Americans
“an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience
associated with actual or potential tissue
damage”

5. Pain Pathways
UNCONSCIOUS BEHAVIOR
OR
CONSCIOUS BEHAVIOR
• Stimulus occurs
• Pain fibers
• Signal travels to spinal cord

6. Withdraw Reflex
 Occurs in spinal cord
 Pain is blocked, enhanced, or modified
 Muscles are activated to move body part

7. Conscious Behavior
 Travels up spinal cord to brain stem
 Some continue to thalamus and cerebral
cortex
 Limbic system

8. Factors Affecting Pain
 Age
 Culture
 Gender
 Activity level
 Activity being performed
 Ethnicity
 Socioeconomic status
 Personality
 Past experiences
 Sleep

9. Gender
FEMALES MALES
 Recovery
 Variety
 Severity
 Frequency
 Pain tolerance and
threshold
 Hormone research

10. Activity Level
 Metabolic derangement
 Abdominal obesity
 Study in 2012 of one million found:
 Overweight (BMI 25-30): 20% higher pain rate
 Obese I (BMI 30-35): 68% higher pain rate
 Obese II (BMI 35-40): 136% higher pain rate
 Obese III (BMI >40): 254% higher pain rate

11. Other Factors
 Audience
 Vision analgesia
 Size perception

12. Types of Pain
 Acute
 Chronic
 Referred
 Myofascial
 Muscular
 Neuropathic
 Phantom

14. Acute Pain
 Traumatic
 Less than 6 months
 Specific mechanism of injury

15. Chronic Pain
 30.7% of US
population
 Lasting at least 6
months
 “Not fleeting or
minor”
 Low back pain
 Impingement
 Plantar Faciistis
 Tendinitis
 Tenosynovitis
 Epicondylitis
 Patellofemoral Pain
Syndrome

16. Referred Pain
 Away from the origin
 Visceral organs
 Bone
 Skin
 Myofascial

17. Myofascial Pain
Commonly Mistaken For:
 Active trigger points
 Adhesions
 Fibroitis
 Myositis
 Myalgia
 Myofasciitis
 Muscle strains

18. Muscular Pain
 Sharp
 Aching
 Soreness
 Spasm
 Cramp
 Strain
 Fibromyalgia
 Itis

19. Neuropathic Pain
 Neuron abnormality
 Peripheral or central
 Symptoms
 Trauma
 Diabetes
 Cancer
 Neuralgia
 Reflex sympathetic
dystrophy syndrome

20. Phantom Pain
 Amputations
 Thalamic images
 Neuromas

21. Pain Treatments
 Gate Control Theory
 Descending Pain Modulation
 Pain- Spasm Cycle

22. Methods
 Local Anesthetics
 Lidocaine
 Cortisone
 Topical
 Ice
 Electrical Stimulation
 Anticonvulsants
 Psychotropic drugs
 Analgesics
 Holistic approaches
 Physical activity

23. Analgesics
 NSAIDs
 Acetaminophen
 Opioids
In 2013, a 7 year study of almost 7 million patients was analyzed. It
was found that 95% of the sample were taking NSAIDs.
One in five older Americans takes a painkiller regularly.

24. Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory
Drugs
Common NSAIDs Pain
 Inflammation
 Stiffness
 Mobility
 1-2 weeks of use
 Take with food or milk
 Aspirin
 Ibuprofen
 Naproxen
 Celebrex
 Voltaren
 Lodine (etodolac)
 Advil
 Aleve
 Daypro
 Tolectin
 Nalfon
Common Side Effects
 Gastric irritation/ulcers
 CV risks
 Stroke
 Liver/kidney damage
 Allergic reactions

25. Acetaminophen
 Pain
 Muscle soreness
 Fever reduction
 Tylenol
Common Side Effects
 Allergic reactions
 Risk with alcohol

26. Opioids
Common Opioids Pain
 Stress and anxiety
 Cough suppressant
 Codeine
 Hydrocodone (Vicodin)
 Dilaudid
 Oxycontin
 Percocet
 Morphine
Common Side Effects
 ADDICTION/withdraw
 Drowsiness
 Constipation
 Nausea
 Vomiting
 Risk with alcohol

27. Holistic Approaches
 Cognitive-behavioral therapy
 Coping skills therapy
 Imagery
 Hypnosis
 Relaxation
 Music
 Acupuncture
 Food

28. Physical Activity and Pain
 Exercise progressions found to
decrease pain
 Decrease in hormones that involve
inflammation
 Known link between chronic pain and
tight, weak muscles
 Increased blood and oxygen flow to
muscle
 Reduces stress

29. Ignoring Pain
 Tissue damage
 Cortisol secreation
 Pain spread (2012)
 Compensation
 Central sensitization
 Treating symptoms

30. Conclusion
 Pain happens for a reason
 Pain is subjective
 What is hurting may not be what is
broken
 Treat the symptoms but remember to
find the cause
 Act!