Types of Pain
Pain is a common symptom of trauma or physical medical disorders. The word for pain comes from the Latin word for fine or penalty, poena. The pain response is one of the most important aspects of the central nervous system. The pain response lets people know that something is wrong and unless some sort of action is taken, greater danger can occur.
Pain may be experienced alone or in conjunction with other symptoms. Some of the most common symptoms associated with pain include nausea, dizziness, perspiration, fatigue, weakness, muscle tremors, stress and anxiety. The emotional effects of pain can be devastating. It can cause anger, irritability and stress in the short term. Long-term pain can cause depression and anxiety so severe that it can lead people to end their lives prematurely. Accommodating pain inevitably causes most victims to change major aspects of their lifestyle. Such changes include work, relationships and daily activities.
The most common treatment for pain is analgesic drugs. Analgesics are medications made especially to stop pain. They are also known as pain medication or pain killers. Other treatments are available but most of them depend on the source of the pain. Treatment for the emotional symptoms that accompany pain may also be required.
People experience pain in different forms. Acute pain and chronic pain are caused through the same mechanism, but have several important differences.
Acute Pain
Acute pain is defined as pain caused from any source that has a duration of less than three months or pain of any duration caused by traumatic tissue damage. Acute pain works like an alarm, alerting people that the body is sustaining damage and corrective action must be taken. When the body experiences trauma or is acutely affected by a medical condition, special receptors in the nerves are activated and send signals to the brain causing the sensation of pain. The source of acute pain is usually diagnosed by most physicians relatively easily as it usually occurs in the affected area.
The number one treatment for acute pain is medication. Analgesics help stop the nerves from sending the signals to the brain causing the sensation of pain. One of the top prescription drugs for the treatment of pain is Tramadol. It helps those suffering from pain to function more-or-less as they normally do. Tramadol can treat moderate to severe pain. When lesser types of pain are experienced, people usually take an over-the-counter analgesic such as aspirin, acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
Before any treatment for acute pain is entered, a diagnosis of the source of the pain is necessary. Some types of acute pain may require a full physical examination by a physician, but many types can be self-diagnosed or diagnosed through an online medical consultation.
Chronic Pain
Chronic pain is defined as pain from any source that lasts for more than three months. It is more difficult to diagnose chronic pain than it is to diagnose acute pain. The largest demographic of people suffering from chronic pain is seniors over the age of 65. It is estimated that more than half of all seniors suffer from chronic pain in one or more areas.
Chronic pain is usually caused by a medical condition. While the medical condition may have come about through a traumatic experience, the trauma is no longer the direct cause. Several medical conditions can cause trauma. Among them are the following:
• Back misalignment
• Joint conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and temporomandibular joint disorder
• Cancer
• Chronic regional pain syndrome
• Trigeminal neuralgia
• Diabetic neuropathy
• Heart disease
Like acute pain, chronic pain is most often treated with pain medication such as Tramadol. However, the pain medication is often used as part of a larger treatment plan that may include physical therapy, electrical stimulation or alternative treatments such as acupuncture.
Tramadol is one of the pain medications most favored by doctors. It is not as addictive as other narcotic medications, yet it is strong enough to treat severe pain.