The body perceives numerous sensations throughout the course of life, for instance, touch, pain, temperature, and proprioception. These sensations are received through specialized sensors in the body. Chemoreceptors sense changes in chemical concentrations, photoreceptors perceive changes in light intensity, mechanoreceptors feel touch and pressure, thermoreceptors sense temperature changes, and pain receptors sense tissue damage.

In this Article, we will be taking a Deep Dive into Pain Reception, Effective Pain Management Strategies, and Modern Pain Management Approaches used by Physicians.

What Is Definition Of Pain?

Pain is a feeling of discomfort that alerts the body that something is wrong. It can be caused by inflammation due to tissue injury or by an infection. It can also be caused by something as simple as inappropriate posture.

Pain is subjective. It is regulated by the body in several ways, mainly by decreased sensitization and increased tolerance towards a stimulus. Sensitization refers to the ability of the body to respond to pain receptors; this can be modulated by increasing the threshold of pain receptors. When you get a small cut or injury, you might notice that the pain gradually lessens until you forget your injury altogether. This gradual decrease in pain is the body’s pain regulation at work. 

What Are The Types Of Pain?

It can be generally classified into two broad categories to optimize and streamline physician’s management approaches towards the patient, namely Acute Pain and Chronic pain. These categories may be further subclassified into multiple subcategories based on their root cause.

Acute Pain Vs Chronic Pain

Acute pain refers to sudden and sharp pain. It is the type of pain you can felt due to headaches, trauma (cuts, burns, bleeding, or fractures), and surgery. Whereas, Chronic pain refers to dull and long-lasting pain. It is defined as pain that lasts for more than 12 weeks. It can occur in long-lasting diseases or health conditions such as arthritis.

Triage of Pain Management Approaches

Pain management is approached in a Three-Step triaged manner depending upon the severity of the pain, which may be judged by a Standard Ten Interval Pain Scale ranging from no pain, moderate pain, and severe unimaginable pain.

Steps	Procedures
Step 1	Emotional therapy in combination with non-prescription drugs, such as NSAIDs and Acetaminophen.
Step 2	Scheduled painkillers and increased intensity via dosage.
Step 3	Alternative medicine or mode of administration, such as opioids and Neuromuscular junction blockers.

Major Approaches and Theories used in Pain Management

Management of pain may be approached in many ways, varying from case to case depending upon the cause and type of pain. Someone suffering from acute pain may seek pain management, but this is rare. It is usually individuals suffering from chronic pain who seek professional help for their pain.

What Are the Conventional Techniques Of Pain Management?

These are the Conventional Techniques and Approaches of Pain Management:

• Self-Medication and Home Remedies
• Thermotherapy
• Acupuncture
• Reiki
• Massage and Chiropractic
• Herbal Medicines and Homeopathy

1. Self-Medication and Home Remedies 

Before consulting a Qualified Expert Physician, individuals tend to self-medicate and rely on home remedies. Willows bark, for example, is sold as a dried herb to be used in tea, has an aspirin-like effect, helps in reducing inflammation, and can come to the aid of resolving headaches and back pain. Turmeric is a spice globally famous for its distinct flavor and color. Additionally, it acts as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant, helping in accelerated recovery.

It can also help by modifying dietary habits to ensure a healthy and balanced diet is being consumed. It has advised getting tested for any nutritional deficiencies that may delay the healing process. Certain research has shown a correlation between eating fresh raw vegetables and decreased premenstrual pain intensity and duration and promising results with diseases like fibromyalgia.

2. Thermotherapy

This gating theory of pain suggests that subjecting the site of pain to hot and cold temperatures via ice packs and heat packs may result in most receptors transmitting the new temperature stimulus instead of the pain. This method prevents transmission and perception of pain by blocking the passage of the impulse. A similar effect is observed when an individual rubs the site of pain after trauma to decrease pain intensity.

3. Acupuncture

Acupuncture is the ancient Chinese art of inserting sterilized needles into key energy zones of the body to relieve pain. The needles help stimulate the body’s central nervous system, which hastens the healing process by releasing key substances like serotonin and other endorphins. Studies have revealed that acupuncture helps manage nausea, headaches, premenstrual cramps, dental pain, and arthritis.

4. Reiki 

Reiki is an ancient Japanese form of alternative medicine that transfers universal energy into an individual using palm movements and no physical touch. It serves to both psychologically and physically heal individuals. Although there has been no evidence of it being an effective treatment for pain management, it is still one of the most practiced forms of pseudoscience after acupuncture.

5. Massage and Chiropractic 

Massage refers to rubbing the soft tissues of the body, for example, muscles and tendons. Chiropractic refers to aligning of bones, particularly the spine. Both seem to aid in relieving severe lower back pain, where individuals seem to have better results than pharmacologic interventions.

6. Herbal Medicines and Homeopathy

Herbal medicines employ oils and roots and their extracts containing medicinal properties. On the other hand, homeopathy is pseudoscientific, meaning no scientific research confirms its therapeutic effect. Both are historical forms of medicine used by our ancestors for numerous ailments, especially rheumatoid arthritis.

What Are Modern Techniques and Approaches Of Pain Management?

These are the Modern Techniques and Approaches of Pain Management used by Physicians:

• Psychotherapy 
• Physiotherapy
• Modern Medications
• Invasive Surgical Implants
• PEMF Therapy

Psychotherapy 

Body-mind therapies (for instance, psychotherapy) are part of a holistic pain management program. In certain circumstances, the pain has a deep-rooted emotional component in addition to the physical reason. Psychotherapy using techniques like hypnosis, breathing, mediation may help manage this.

Physiotherapy

Physicians may manage the physical component of pain via physiotherapy or rehabilitation. Regular exercising helps in the release of endorphins and enkephalins that boost emotions and body function. Breathing exercises and yoga help in both mental and physical relaxation. In certain circumstances, human contact or even presence may facilitate a speedy recovery.

Modern Medications

Modern medicine also referred to as allopathic medicine, is a scientific and research-based drug administration. It is a key constituent of the pain management approach by physicians. They have well-documented side effects. Therefore they are relatively safe to use as physicians balance the benefit and disadvantages while prescribing appropriate medication and dosage to achieve a desirable therapeutic effect. 

NSAIDs (such as aspirin and paracetamol) are commonly used medications and help decrease pain by reducing inflammation. In cases of extreme pain, opioids such as morphine may be used by physicians. 

Invasive Surgical Implants

Once the triage of pain management fails to ensure a pain-free condition for the patient, physicians turn towards surgical interventions. Medication may be injected directly into the nerve. Spinal cord implants can also be used. These implants are remote-controlled devices that help regulate pain impulses within the central nervous system, from the spinal cord to the brain.

PEMF Therapy

All invasive medical procedures and medication come with certain unwanted side effects. Recent research in medicine has been focused on developing solutions with minimal invasiveness to decrease these unwanted effects. There has been much success as researchers have come up with developments in medical procedures and devices to reduce these effects. An example of such an innovation is a Pulsed Electromagnetic Field device known as PEMF Therapy Device.

The cells in your body each have specific requirements, which is why the environment of your body is strictly controlled. Temperature, pH, and water content are just some examples of variables kept within strict limits.

A pulsed electromagnetic field, abbreviated to PEMF, aims to charge body cells like batteries using safe electromagnetic waves. These waves essentially revitalize and charge the cells, ultimately leading to an overall healthier and more energized individual. The therapy has been proven to reduce pain effectively as compared to other non-invasive methods.

Why Wear PEMF have Best PEMF Therapy Device?

PEMF therapy has been proven to help improve a broad range of issues, including joint pain, sprains, chronic inflammation, nerve damage, osteoporosis. It has even shown markedly faster wound-healing in patients using it.

Wear PEMF is one of the most convenient Smart PEMF Devices in the market. Unlike other devices available in the market, it is small and wearable in any situation. It is completely wireless with Bluetooth connectivity to connect the device to your phone. The device also comes with its smartphone app with a variety of therapy modes such as pain relief, injury healing, and relaxation so that you can choose what you want to achieve

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Conclusion

There are numerous Pain Management techniques and Approaches. Some conventional methods have been tried and tested over centuries; therefore, they create a sense of tradition and heritage, such as Ayurveda which is deep-rooted in the history of the Indian subcontinent. In contrast to which modern techniques such as PEMF and pain-relieving devices are relatively modern innovations showing promising results.

For a personalized and constructive treatment plan, it is always advised to seek immediate help from a primary care physician as early as possible and, if need be, seek a referral to specialty care certified in pain care.

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Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Before considering any pain management program or therapy, individuals should consult with a qualified healthcare professional to determine the most suitable approach based on their individual needs and medical history