Pain

Pain is an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience of varying intensity associated with actual or potential tissue damage. Special receptors are irritated at the site of tissue damage, and a nerve impulse is born, which is transmitted through sensory fibers to the brain, where it is perceived as pain. The sensation of pain is followed by a negative emotional response, accompanied by fear, agitation, or depression – suffering. If pain persists for a long time, a person’s behavior changes: they talk about pain, worry, constantly visit doctors or pharmacists, seek relief, their posture changes, and their facial expression changes. Pain can be caused by any tissue damage – mechanical, thermal, chemical, inflammatory. Acute pain that starts suddenly and lasts no longer than 1 month is called acute. Chronic pain is called when it lasts longer than 6 months. If pain lasts longer than 1 month but does not exceed half a year, it is considered subacute.

Source | Author Doctor Nikas Samuolis, reviewed by Prof. Virginijus Šapoka | Vilnius University | Faculty of Medicine | Head of the Department of Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, and Oncology