Pain Core Curriculum Module 1: Basics of Chronic Pain Evaluation-Presentation

Video Transcription

Video Summary

Dr. Melissa Weimler from Yale School of Medicine presents an overview on evaluating chronic pain, clarifying its distinction from acute pain. Chronic pain, lasting over three months, can stem from genetic, epigenetic, and psychosocial factors, and encompasses nociceptive, neuropathic, and nociplastic pain.<br /><br />1. <strong>Nociceptive Pain</strong>: Linked to tissue damage, often due to injury, affecting muscles, bones, or organs. Symptoms might include sharp or aching sensations.<br /><br />2. <strong>Neuropathic Pain</strong>: Originates from nerve damage or disease, resulting in burning or tingling sensations, often linked to conditions like diabetes or nerve injuries.<br /><br />3. <strong>Nociplastic Pain</strong>: Involves complex pain processing issues, linked with conditions like fibromyalgia.<br /><br />Dr. Weimler emphasizes a biopsychosocial approach for assessing pain, involving comprehensive evaluation tools, considering factors like mental health and substance use disorders. Chronic pain can cause psychiatric disorders, necessitating integrated treatment strategies focusing on both physical and mental health elements. This ensures a holistic understanding of patient pain experiences and guides effective treatment plans. The presentation encourages healthcare professionals to utilize validated tools for assessing chronic pain and to consider the broader context in which patients experience pain.

Keywords

chronic pain

acute pain

nociceptive pain

neuropathic pain

nociplastic pain

biopsychosocial approach

pain evaluation

mental health

integrated treatment