Pain types

I know that we've been taught that the pain is what the patient says it is, and you treat it. So out of curiosity, how is the pain different, and does that affect how you treat it? Do you give different medications based on what type of pain it is? I honestly don't know, but I look forward to your answer!

What do they exactly mean when they say, "it's all pain anyway?" I don't understand at all.

If we do not investigate exactly what type of pain the patient is experiencing, how can it be addressed? If we don't know what's causing it, how can we treat it?

Nociceptive pain feels very different from neuropathic pain and the causes are different. How they're treated is different.

Somatic pain feels very different from visceral pain and treatment will vary. One can be benign and another can be a symptom of something serious.

Acute pain is very different from chronic pain and treatment will be different.

Just think about the abundance of pain meds. Common agents used in pain control: NSAIDS, steroids, opiates, tricyclic antidepressants, SSRIs or SNRIs, antiepileptics... All these are used for pain. How will you choose if you do not know what works for what type of pain?

Does your nursing textbook have a chapter on pain? I'm sure it will discuss all those different types and why knowing them are important.

Hi Miss Mollie

here is a vague instruction for an assignment. In a discussion with some colleagues the comment is made that 'it doesn't really matter whether patients are experiencing nociceptive or neuropathic pain ‐ it's all pain anyway?'

Outline your response to this comment including arguments for your key points which are supported by evidence from the literature.

Well, if the pain is different, then outline the differences, including patient experience, medication that may be used, and over outcome to the pain and therapy offered. Good luck!

Oh, so it's a scenario given to you as an assignment! Phewww! It's a relief... I'd like to think that no one out there thinks it doesn't matter.

Well, if the pain is different, then outline the differences, including patient experience, medication that may be used, and over outcome to the pain and therapy offered. Good luck!

What do YOU think the differences are based on the research that you have done so far? What work have you done on this assignment so far?

What do YOU think the differences are based on the research that you have done so far? What work have you done on this assignment so far?

Just for the record, I'm not the OP.

I think she was quoting your suggestions but addressing the OP

Actually, I totally meant to reply to the post just above, made by the OP to address the OP and totally fudged it. No more posting in the morning before being awake for me!

I think it does matter. Different types of pain are treated differently. There are entire classes of drugs developed specially for neuropathic pain. Neuropathic pain in my experience is often hard to treat.