Types of Pain
There are 2 types of pain that health workers need to be aware of:
TYPE OF PAIN | FEATURES |
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Nociceptive Pain The pain pathways are intact. This kind of pain responds to the analgesic ladder |
|
Neuropathic Pain There is damage to nerves or the pathways. The pain responds only partially to the analgesic ladder and needs adjuvants of amitriptyline or phenytoin |
|
Clinical investigation
It is important for health workers to conduct a thorough investigation of a patient indicating they are in pain. The
following points can be used to guide the investigation:
- Duration of pain
- Severity: assess using the Numerical Rating Scale, where the patient grades his/her pain on a scale of 0 = no pain to 5 = worst pain ever experienced
- Site and radiation
- Nature (e.g., stabbing, throbbing, crushing, cramp-like)
- Periodicity (constant or intermittent)
- Relieving or aggravating factors
- Accompanying symptoms
- Ask the patient for a detailed history for each pain experienced, as there may be more than one type of pain
and area experiencing pain - A targeted physical examination