Pain is usually one of the first symptoms of many medical conditions that prompt a patient to see a doctor. On the one hand, it is an alarm signal informing us that something is wrong with our body, on the other hand, it is important information for a doctor where to look for pathology and how to treat it. Regardless of the definition, it is certainly an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience related to the action of a damaging stimulus or a stimulus whose action threatens the occurrence of such damage.
Breakdown of pain
In practice, we can break down pain in many ways.
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By duration:
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acute <3 months
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chronic> 3 months
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By location:
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somatic pain - concerning receptors located more superficially, i.e. skin, subcutaneous tissue, musculoskeletal system - precise location of pain, corresponding to the location of pathology
- visceral pain - concerning receptors located inside the body cavities, i.e. the chest, abdominal cavity, pelvis - the location of pain is imprecise, diffuse, may radiate to distant parts of the body not directly related to the location of pathology - e.g. pain in the left upper limb and mandible, which may often be the only symptom of an acute infarction the heart muscle
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By reason:
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inflammatory - e.g. trauma, infection, autoimmune diseases
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neuropathic: peripheral and central - associated with damage to the nerve structures that can lead to pathological activation of the nervous system and chronic pain, despite the lack of a direct cause, e.g. diabetes-related neuropathy, post-herpetic neuropathy, ilio-inguinal nerve neuropathy after inguinal hernia surgery, etc.
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nociceptor - as a result of direct stimulation of pain receptors, e.g. burns, wounds, direct pressure on nerves
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pain in cancer patients - usually of a mixed nature, both related to the direct stimulation of nociceptors, inflammation, but also damage to the central or peripheral nervous system as a result of the progressive neoplastic disease, but also as a result of treatment, e.g. toxicity of chemotherapy, radiotherapy or surgery
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Summing up, pain does not arise only as a result of direct irritation of the sensory endings, but may be the result of a progressive underlying disease that leads to damage to various nervous structures that begin to incorrectly conduct sensory stimuli, or at the level of higher levels of the central nervous system, abnormal transduction, conduction, modulation (impulse processing) occurs nervous system) or the perception of a pain or sensation stimulus.
Pain management therapy
In the treatment of pain management, a multimodal multidisciplinary approach is important, requiring on the one hand cooperation between the surgeon, physiotherapist and the doctor dealing with pain management. Therefore, to achieve effective therapy and pain control, it is important to treat pain at many levels of its generation, transmission, modulation and perception pathways, which can be achieved by appropriately selected pharmacological treatment, but also by interventional treatment, usually including initially diagnostic blocks, but which may also have a therapeutic effect. In the case of positive responses, the patient may be qualified for a relapse to thermolesion or neurolysis treatments, which may bring many months' relief from ailments. All procedures and blockades performed under ultrasound control ensure greater precision and effectiveness as well as significantly reduce the risk of any complications and complications associated with these procedures. The final choice of therapy and treatment plan should be individually selected for the patient and his expectations, taking into account the coexisting diseases, medications taken as well as the economic and social situation of the patient.
