Pain Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Pain - Essay Example Pain is a sensation which is prompted by the nervous system and it can be helpful in diagnosing a health issue.   In some instances, it can be described as sharp or dull, prolonged or acute, localized or systemic pain.   Without the sensation of pain, a person might be seriously injured or ill without knowing it (Medline Plus, 2011).   There are various sources of pain: nociceptive and neuropathic pain.   In nociceptive pain, the nervous system is working well and the body tells the brain that there is a source of pain, such as an injury or a cut; in neuropathic pain, the nervous system is not working properly because there may be no apparent source of pain, but the body is still telling the brain that an injury is present (Helm and Shiel, 2011).   In terms of length of time that pain is experienced, pain may be considered acute or chronic.   Acute pain may be related to trauma or injuring agents like biological, physical, and psychological agents.   It may be sudden or slow in onset and be mild or severe in intensity with duration of less than 6 months.   The patient may verbally report pain sensation and manifest with observed symptoms of pain, including protective gestures to avoid pain, changes in muscle tone, restlessness, moaning, crying, and irritability (Nurse Blog, 2009).   Chronic pain is known to represent the disease itself.   It may be environmental or psychological; may persist over a long period of time and be resistant to medical treatments (Medicine.net, 2011).   Interventions for pain relief include: anticipate the need for pain relief; respond immediately to pain complaint; eliminate additional stressors or sources of discomfort; provide rest periods for sleep and relaxation; determine pain relief with the assistance of doctors though NSAIDS, opiates, and local anesthetic agents.   Apply non-pharmacologic pain relief strategies, including: guided imagery, distraction techniques, relaxation techniques, and biofeedback ( Nursing Care, 2010).   It is also important to coordinate with the physicians for the relief of chronic and severe pain.