By Akwele

An unpleasant sensory and emotional experience arising from actual or potential tissue damage. (International Association For The Study of Pain). Pain knows no boundaries. It can be experienced by the rich, poor, young, old, male, female, all racial and ethnic groups. It does not discriminate. Pain is subjective. The one feeling the pain knows how bad it hurts.

When pain is perceived by the brain, the body’s natural opioid-like substances known as endorphins block the transmission. Differences in the amount of endorphins in people explain why some people experience more pain than others. Prolonged use of morphine and alcohol decrease endorphin levels. Laughter, brief stress and pain, exercise, acupuncture and sexual activity increase endorphin levels. People with the same injury might respond differently to pain. Many factors affect the pain experience. These include the person’s pain threshold – the point at which a stimulus causes pain. Anger, fatigue and depression are some of the factors that lower the pain threshold. Pain tolerance is how much pain a person can handle. Some people have a high pain tolerance whilst others have a low one. Older people do not like to report pain for fear of rejection. Pain is not part of aging although certain conditions might lead to pain.

What have culture and ethnicity, religious beliefs and past experiences got to do with pain? A whole lot. Some people deny pain whilst others moan and cry when in pain. People express pain in different ways. Some people may pray for divine intervention when in pain, whilst others regard pain as punishment for sin. A person’s past experiences with pain influences how he/she deals with pain. He can exhibit responses such as moaning, withdrawal, verbalizing pain and grimacing. There might be increase in heart rate, breathing and blood pressure depending on whether it is acute or chronic pain. Acute pain comprises of pain from surgery, kidney stones, fracture and childbirth. Chronic pain lasts for months and may be years. An example of a chronic pain is arthritis. Non pharmacological (does not use medications) interventions for pain include comfort measures such as providing for adequate ventilation, food, fluid, temperature, tender loving care, (TLC) rest and sleep. Some need to listen to music. Heat or cold may be applied as appropriate. Anxiety reduction, vibration, massage and relaxation also help to relieve pain. Non opioid medications such as aspirin, acetaminophen and ibuprofen may be given for mild pain. They have side effects such as stomach irritation, fluid retention and bleeding easily. For moderate to severe pain, opioid analgesics (pain killer) are given. They include codeine, morphine and hydromorphone. Some of the side effects are itching, hypotension, (low blood pressure) urinary retention, sedation, respiratory depression and constipation.

Pain in most cases is what leads one to seek health care. Are you in pain? Do not keep it to yourself. Talk to your physician about it.

Disclaimer: This should be regarded only as information about pain. Consult a physician for diagnosis and treatment.

Reference: www.medlineplus.gov