What is pain?

Pain is defined as localized physical suffering or an unpleasant feeling in any part of the body. Pain can be very minor to incredibly intense and can be caused by a variety of different things.

What are the different types of pain?

The different types of pain are divided into two main classes: Nociceptive and Non Nociceptive. Nociceptive pain comes from stimulation of pain receptors in the body that are released from damaged cells. Non Nociceptive pain comes primarily from nerve cell dysfunction. Nociceptive pain is made up of two groups: Somatic and Visceral. Somatic pain is usually a sharp pain and very easy to pin point on the body. Visceral pain is a dull pain and not quite as easy to identify where it is coming from.

Should I see a doctor for pain?

Whether or not you should see a doctor for your pain depends on a variety of things. First of all, you have to ask yourself what is causing your pain. Did you have an accident or injury? In the event of an accident medical care should be sought out if the resulting pain is from a broken or fractured bone, a cut or wound that is bleeding heavily, or severe head trauma. If the accident was minor and you don’t suspect any bones are broken or fractured and there are no cuts or severe wounds you are probably okay to treat the pain at your own home.

What is the best way to treat pain?

Pain can be treated in many different ways and it all depends on the type of pain you are experiencing. Most minor pain can be treated at home with over the counter drugs such as aspirin, acetaminophen, and ibuprofen. More severe pain may require medical attention. Drugs like Demerol, Oxycontin, Vicodin, morphine and codeine are often prescribed by doctors and used in hospitals to manage severe pain. Some of these drugs are opiates and can be very addictive if used long term. If you have been prescribed an opiate for pain be sure to only use it for as long as you need it to avoid the possibility of opiate addiction.

Related Questions