Interesting Facts about Pain

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT PAIN Ever stubbed your toe? Been stung by a bee? Pain is as much a part of everyday life as breathing. In this infographic, you will learn a bunch of cool things like how pain works, what tattoos hurt most and what insect sting feels like getting shot. HOW PAINS WORKS Definition of pain: "an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage, or described in terms such damage." 4 MODULATION The sensory cortex which is located in the front part of the parietal lobe, which is located in the middle area of our brain is the final location of the message. REACTION Our body reacts as needed. For example, taking the hand away from stove burner or 3 PERCEPTION The cerebral cortex deciphers where the pain is from and measurably references it. running aimlessly holding the burnt hand and screaming 2 TRANSMISSION The message is transmitted by the peripheral nerves to the spinal cord and the dorsal horn and sorted out. for MOM! TRANSDUCTION Receivers in our skin, bones, and deep tissue pick up the message when pain is felt. SOUCH TYPES OF PAIN International Association for the Study of Pain (yes, it's a thing... that exists) classifies pain based on where it occurs, what is causing it, its duration and intensity. NONCICEPTIVE - PAIN Caused by stimulation of any nerve endings that are outside of the brain or the spinal cord, like when pepper gets in your eyes. BREAKTHROUGH PAIN Pain that comes on for short periods of time PSYCHOGENIC – PAIN Caused by mental or emotional factors (like broken heart – we are not kidding, this is science). Examples: headache, back pain, stomach pain NEUROPATHIC – PAIN Caused by damage or disease. Feelings: burning, tingling, stabbing, pins / needles sensation INCIDENT PAIN Caused as a result of an activity PHANTOM - PAIN From a part of the body that is no longer there or from which the brain doesn't receive signals anymore. Creepy! TATTOO AND PAIN Want to get a cool tattoo but can't deal with pain? You may want to avoid that classy tattoo on your private parts you've been dreaming about and go for a butt tattoo instead. MOST PAINFUL O LEAST PAINFUL 1 "Down Under" 1 Butt 2 Spine 2 Thigh 3 Lips 3 Shoulder 4 Foot 4 Calf 5 Chest / Ribcage 5 Upper Arm TATTOO PAIN FACTORS ARE GAUGED BY: How thin/thick How close How close and the skin in to bone number of nerve the area of the area is. endings are in the area. question is. SEXMIBT STING INDEX In the 1980's, a scientist Justin Schmidt had an excellent idea: "Why not get the most sting-happy insects from all over the world and let them sting me, so I can record the resulting pain and create an index around it?". The idea was so clearly brilliant that Mr. Schmidt pursuaded his colleagues to participate too. Together, they voluntarily took the stings of 78 different charming Hymenopteran species (that means "insects that bite the crap out of you whenever you get close" in science-speak, kids). 4.0+ BULLET ANT SCHMIDT STING INDEX: Sting does not kill, but is registered as being the most painful sting from any insect or animal. Pure, intense, brilliant pain – like being shot with a bullet, A SCALE OF O-4 4 +) hence the name. Also has been described as Very excruciating pain. 'fire-walking over flaming charcoal with a 3-inch rusty nail grinding into your heel. 4.0 TARANTULA HAWK Blinding, fierce, shockingly electric. A running hair drier has been dropped into your bubble bath. 3.0 PAPER WASP Caustic and burning. Distinctly bitter aftertaste. Like spilling a beaker of hydrochloric acid on a paper cut. 2.0 YELLOWJACKET 1 Hot and smoky, almost irreverent. Imagine Al Capone extinguishing a cigar on your tongue. Stings that can't penetrate the human skin and an average human will not be affected. 1.0 SWEAT BEE Light, ephemeral, almost fruity. A tiny spark has singed a single hair on your arm. NUMERIC RATING SCALE SEALE MOST PAINFUL MEDICAL CONDITIONS We've gone to the doctor with some kind of a pain, but these 5 medical conditions are on a whole other level (you will cry for Mommy). 10 7-10 Cluster Headache A pain more severe than childbirth or any migraine. Severe Pain 8. (disabling; unable to perform ADLS) Trigeminal neuralgia Pain feels as if you have an electric shock to your face. Hidradenitis Suppurtiva Cysts that can be as large as baseballs and extremely painful. 7 Dercum Disease Causes large and painful lumpsl usually around the waist and legs. 4-6 Kidney Stones 8. Characterized by extreme groin pain, nausea, and vomiting. Moderate Pain (interferes significantly with ADLS) Could grow as big as a golf ball that must be excreted. MOST PAINFUL CASUAL INJURIES 1-3 Most of us have experienced these and can attest to the frustrating pain each brings. Mild Pain Biting your tongue 4 (nagging, annoying, interfering little with ADLS) Rug rash or floor burn 4 1 Leaning on a hot stove Slammed fingers 2 Paper Cuts 1 No Pain BATTLE OF THE SEXES With the exception of around Remember that Wimpy Redhead Kid From School? Well, there is a good reason he was wimpy. Red hair, pale skin, the genetics of a redhead is genetically caused by a gene on the time of child birth, men have a higher pain threshold, as women seem to have more pain receptors in their skin that chromosome 16 that affects the amplify their exposure to aches MC1R receptor protein. Surgeons have long reported that redheads require more anesthetic than others, making it very difficult to gauge the and pains. And due to a little protein called GIRK2, women can require up to double the amount of amount that each needs to be painkillers to get the same completely put down. amount of relief as men. UNEXPECTED WAYS TO BELIEVE PAIN (proven by science) FOOD IMAGINATION Since food was a scarce resource for most of the Studies have shown that imagining things that reduce discomfort help reduce pain sensitivity. So next time you stub your toe, visualize that you are floating on a cloud. human history, our brains developed a way for us to concentrate on eating whenever food became available, this included reducing sensitivity to pain, which may be the explanation for why we eat when we are stressed. CURSING MUSIC A study* showed that students could keep their hand in a bucket of ice water longer when they would scream curse words instead of remaining silent. So next time you get a paper cut at work, you will know how to deal with the pain appropriately. In-hospital studies confirm playing a patient's favorite music in their room dramatically decreases the pain they are feeling, even if the pain is severe. RELIGION YOUR HANDS British scientists found that people experience far less pain when touching an injured part of their body, as this helps the brain to more quickly identify the source of pain and deal with it. Pain study showed that Catholics who were looking at a picture of Virgin Mary were able to handle electrical shocks better than atheists or agnostics. MONEY In a recent study involving a bowl of very hot water, test subjects' pain tolerance was greatly increased when they were handed a wad of cash. It's official, your brain loves money. Sources: http://scienceblogs.com/neurophilosophy/2009/07/13/swearing-increases-pain-tolerance/ http://www.npr.org/2009/08/07/111579154/study-your-brain-thinks-money-is-a-drug http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/6321124/Eating-chocolate-can-help-relieve-pain-study-claims.html http://www.nowpublic.com/health/mussic-can-take-pain-away-study-finds http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1314814/Why-rubbing-better-really-DOES-work-lt-hurts-clutch-scientists.html http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1314814/Why-rubbing-better-really-DOES-work-It-hurts-clutch-scientists.html http://www.cracked.com/article_18882_6-random-things-other-than-drugs-that-reduce-pain.html * Keele University's School of Psychology www www.advancedphysicalmedicine.org/ ADVANCED facebook www.facebook.com/pages/Advanced-Physical-Medicine/296827551272 PHYSICAL twitter @dr_backs MEDICINE Designed by Cristina Gambaccini Copyright © 2012 Advanced Physical Medicine. All rights reserved.