Pain

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Specializes in Medical/Surgical, Cardiac/Telemetry.

Is it possible to have inflammation without pain? Or does it always accompany it in some form or degree? I know pain is individualized and may be different from pt to pt.

If it is possible or under certain circumstances can you give me an example? It's related to a question we had on our test today r/t stomatitis and pain c swallowing (HIV pt). I was involved in a discussion with another student and they specificially didn't choose that answer because they didn't associate inflammation with pain and stated that inflammation does not equate pain.

I on the other hand tend to associate inflammation with pain. I'm thinking synapse, neurons etc.

Help me if I'm completely wrong with this.

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

think about this. . .what are the four cardinal signs of inflammation?

  • redness
  • heat
  • swelling
  • pain
  • (in that order of occurrence)

why does the pain occur? because of the swelling that presses on the surrounding tissues and nerve endings. this is an answer that required you to know the pathophysiology of the inflammation response and the signs and symptoms associated with it. for a discussion about the pathophysiology of the inflammation response (with the mast cells, histamine and other chemical that are involved) you can find a link to the thread where it is thoroughly explained on post #49 of this thread: https://allnurses.com/forums/f205/pathophysiology-p-fluid-electrolyte-resources-145201.html - pathophysiology/ a & p/ microbiology/ fluid & electrolyte resources

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Specializes in Medical/Surgical, Cardiac/Telemetry.

Thanks Daytonite

I overlooked the actual patho r/t inflammation and was thinking how pain is transmitted.

Thanks for pointing that out, it's even more obvious looking at it that way.

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