Various types of Pain Disorders

Pain Disorder is a somatoform disorder in which the predominant area of focus is painful bodily complaints in which psychological factors are determined to be central to the onset, severity, exacerbation or maintenance of the complaint. Pain disorders are classified into several categories based upon their cause. Neuropathic pain is a particularly severe pain disorder that results from damage to the central and peripheral nervous system. Ion channels play an important role in the detection, transmission and cognitive recognition of pain signals. Ion channels are critical at each step in the pain pathway, including the detection of local stimuli, the transmission of the electrical impulses to the brain and the interpretation of electrical impulses as pain signals. Pain Disorder (like conversion disorder) is a form of somatoform disorder. Pain Disorder does not mean that the person has no biological reason for pain. It suggests that there are psychological factors that appear to have contributed to the onset, severity, maintenance or exacerbation of the pain. In pain disorder, it is important that the patient be assisted in determining what factors play a role in the experience of the pain.

Pain disorder may come after surgery, hospitalization, or injury; when the wound heals, the pain doesn't go away. It sometimes comes in conjunction with an addiction as well, and may be a symptom of hypochondrism or another depressive disorder. Pain disorder is marked by the presence of severe pain. Pain disorder is relatively common in the general population especially amongolder adults; the sex ratio is more nearly equal. It appears to affect men and women with equalfrequency. Inflammatory pain results from the effects of inflammatory mediators and cellular debris that are released into surrounding tissues as the immune system is activated, whether appropriately to fight infection, or inappropriately, such as in auto-immune disorders, including rheumatoid arthritis. Patients with body dysmorphic disorder often try to have plasticsurgery or other procedures to repair or treat the supposed defect. Both neuropathic pain and inflammatory pain are types of chronic pain. Because of the many different reasons pain disorder manifests, it may or may not be successfully treatable. If it comes in conjunction with another mental illness, it should be treatable and the patient should recover fully.

Symptoms of Pain Disorders:

1. Lightheadedness or dizziness.

2. Skipping heartbeat.

3. Chest pain.

4. Excessive sweating

5. Nausea or stomach problems.

6. Feelings of unreality.

Treatment of Pain Disorders:

Surgical complications and addictions to prescription pain medications can develop if used inappropriately to treat this condition. Psychiatric referrals may be helpful, though many people with this disorder resist psychiatric interventions. Pain Disorder associated with a General Medical Condition may be treated with a course of general pain killers. This term is used for any patient who has pain that is mainly caused, worsened or maintained by a general medical condition, so long as any psychological factors play at most a minor role. Prescription and non-prescription pain medications are usually not effective and can make matters worse due to potentially serious side effects.

Juliet Cohen writes articles for medical diseases. She also writes articles for depression treatment.

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