Pain

We occasionally feel pain, and some of us even fear it. However, it is noteworthy that pain is a deterrence mechanism intended to highlight a problem that should be treated. Pain can be long-lasting or transient, with varying degrees of intensity.

Types of pain

1. Nociceptive pain: pain that arises from abnormal irritation of the peripheral nerve endings. The irritation may be due to thermal irritation (heat or cold), mechanical change (pressure, tear, etc.), or contact of the body with a chemical substance (such as iodine). There are three types of nociceptive pain:
   
   1. Superficial somatic pain: pain that is characterized by a sharp sensation felt on the skin and is easily pinpointed to a specific location
   2. Deep somatic pain: pain that is noticeably felt in the ligaments and bones and is dull in nature, making it difficult to localize
   3. Visceral pain: pain that is felt in the internal organs that are extremely sensitive to distension (stretch); It is essentially simple but difficult to localize, and sometimes it projects onto other organs that are close to the affected organ. It may be accompanied by symptoms such as nausea and vomiting
2. Neuropathic pain: pain that arises from damage caused by disease or neural tissue. It is characterized by burning, stabbing, or electric shock sensations. For example, pain in the ends of the extremities at advanced stages of diabetes
3. Psychogenic pain: pain that appears as an expression of emotional distress
4. Breakthrough pain: pain that appears abruptly for short periods of time. This type of pain does not respond to regular painkillers. For example, breakthrough pain experienced by cancer patients despite being on painkillers

The onset of pain in older adults

There is general agreement on how pain manifests itself in older adults. This is due to diseases related to muscles and bones (e.g., osteoarthritis), as well as neuropathic pain.

• Older adults are less sensitive to sharp pain caused by heat
• Older adults are more sensitive to mechanically generated pain
• Older adults find it difficult to cope with prolonged pain
• Chronic pain can impair daily functioning to the point of requiring nursing care. Sometimes it can even lead to confinement at home, causing anxiety, worsening sleep disorders, loneliness, depression, and dementia
  How do you treat pain, and who can help?
• Over-the-counter painkillers can be taken. This should be done after reading the medication leaflet and taking the necessary precautions
• If you experience persistent pain, consult your family doctor. It is important to point out that supplementary health insurance offered by the HMOs covers alternative treatments such as acupuncture, which can be effective for several types of pain and personalized to the patient’s needs by the caregiver
• In some cases, pain can be treated with medical cannabis. Additional information on treatment options with medical cannabis
• If you suffer from abrupt or sudden pain, consult your family doctor or seek medical attention in the emergency room