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Pain
Pain - its function and types
Pain is registered in the brain. It is our response both consciously and unconsciously to a noxious experience to our body. Because it is experienced in the brain and mind, it is hard to measure objectively with diagnostic tests. People having different threshold of pain. It can physiologically vary from ethnicity, culture and gender. But despite this nebulousness, pain is real, and causes significant changes to our bodies and minds, and is a major cause of physical and mental disability.
There are two types of Pain: Acute and Chronic.
Acute Pain is your body's message that there has been an injury or illness that requires your attention. An example is an injury to the back from a lifting event. Your body sends a pain message telling you, if not forcing you, to rest and lie down, to allow itself to heal. And after a period of time and treatment, either the pain dissipates indicating improvement; or it persists, indicating a more serious injury requiring medical evaluation. Another example, is gradual pain in the belly or head, with no traumatic event. Concern is raised of an illness with possibilities from inflamation to cancer. Pain is an important message from your body, and must be attended and medically evaluated. Ignoring that message can lead to further injury, or delay in diagnosing a serious illness.
Chronic Pain is by definition a pain that lasts longer than three months. It is important to establish a cause and accurate diagnosis. Once a diagnosis is determined, treatment is directed to the problem and ideally the pain resolves or lessens. Unfortunately, there are many conditions and injuries that are not completely resolved, and there is continued pain. That chronic daily pain results in many physical and mental changes, and the Chronic Pain itself becomes a separate secondary problem and diagnosis that needs its own management for:
- Pain resulting in disability, limiting daily, recreational and work activities
- Financial Stress resulting from difficulty or inability in doing previous work
- Weight gain from loss of physical and recreational activity
- Hormonal changes resulting in decreased testosterone
- Social isolation affecting home and family
- Depression from the above
Consultation
Pain Management begins with accurate diagnosis, to establish the proper treatment program. We do management and second opinions. Medicare and most PPO insurances accepted.
Pain Scale
Mild Pain: 1 to 2 out of 10
No Pain:
- 0 out of 10
Mild Pain:
- 1 out 10 or 2 out of 10. Pain is a nuissance, and does not limit any activity or require medications.
Slight Pain: 3 out of 10
Slight Pain:
- 3 out of 10: Able to do things, but with pain
Moderate Pain: 4 or 5 over 10
Moderate Pain:
- 4 out of 10: Pain with sitting in a movie
- 5 out of 10: Painful to sit or stand one hour
Moderate Pain: 6 out of 10
Severe Pain: 9 to 10 out of 10
Moderate Pain:
- 6 out of 10: Painful to sit or stand half hour
Moderate-Severe Pain: 7 to 8
Severe Pain: 9 to 10 out of 10
Severe Pain: 9 to 10 out of 10
Moderately Severe Pain:
- 7 out of 10: Unable to sit or stand for less than half an hour
- 8 out of 10: Have to lie down for frequently throughout day
Severe Pain: 9 to 10 out of 10
Severe Pain: 9 to 10 out of 10
Severe Pain: 9 to 10 out of 10
Severe Pain:
- 9 out of 10. Prevents motion.
- 10 out of 10. Bedridden.