which of the following words best describes how a patient might report visceral pain

by Alessandra Larson 3 min read

Visceral Pain: What Causes It and How to Manage It

21 hours ago Which of the following can cause visceral pain? Blockage of the intestine. How might a patient describe visceral pain? Dull ache that is hard to locate. Parietal Pain. Stems from an irritation of the peritoneum. How might a patient describe parietal pain? COnstant sharp pain. >> Go To The Portal


Visceral pain is often described as: pressure aching squeezing cramping You may also notice other symptoms such as nausea or vomiting, as well as changes in body temperature, heart rate, or blood pressure.

Full Answer

Which of the following is a physiologic response to pain?

Sleeplessness, perspiration, and increased heart rate are physiologic responses to pain. Pain elicits a stress response in the human body that triggers the sympathetic nervous system. Hyperglycemia, not hypoglycemia, and decreased, not increased, intestinal motility are physiologic responses to pain.

What is visceral pain?

Visceral pain is pain related to the internal organs in the midline of the body. Unlike somatic pain — pain that occurs in tissues such as the muscles, skin, or joints — visceral pain is often vague, happens every so often, and feels like a deep ache or pressure.

What level of pain should the nurse document the client's pain?

The nurse should document the client's pain as subcutaneous level pain, which is indicated by the throbbing pain. Pain at the epidermis level is a burning sensation.

Which beliefs can serve as barriers to an accurate assessment of pain?

Beliefs of health care providers can serve as barriers to an accurate assessment of a client's pain. Which of the following beliefs will not be likely to impair the assessment of pain? Infants can feel pain and may respond with crying or agitation. Old people have more pain which is to be expected.

How is visceral pain described?

Visceral pain is poorly defined and diffuse and commonly described as deep, gnawing, twisting, aching, colicky, or dull1. It is usually associated with autonomic features (e.g. sweating, nausea and vomiting) and highly emotional (e.g. anxious, feeling of impending doom).

What is an example of visceral pain?

Examples of visceral pain are bladder pain, endometriosis, irritable bowel syndrome, and prostate pain. Some describe visceral pain as a generalized squeezing or aching.

What is the basis for referred visceral pain?

The referred pain occurs because of multiple primary sensory neurons converging on a single ascending tract. When the painful stimuli arise in visceral receptors the brain is unable to distinguish visceral signals from the more common signals that arise from somatic receptors.

What is visceral in medical terms?

Listen to pronunciation. (VIH-seh-rul) Having to do with the viscera, which are the soft internal organs of the body, including the lungs, the heart, and the organs of the digestive, excretory, reproductive, and circulatory systems.

What is visceral pain and somatic pain?

Somatic pain is in the muscles, bones, or soft tissues. Visceral pain comes from your internal organs and blood vessels. Somatic pain is intense and may be easier to pinpoint than visceral pain. That's because your muscles, bones, and skin are supplied with a lot of nerves to detect pain.

What is visceral nociceptive pain?

Visceral pain is the pain you feel from your internal organs, such as your stomach, bladder, uterus, or rectum. It a type of nociceptive pain, which means that is caused by medical conditions that produce inflammation, pressure, or an injury.

How do you identify referred pain?

Referred pain is when the pain you feel in one part of your body is actually caused by pain or injury in another part of your body. For example, an injured pancreas could be causing pain in your back, or a heart attack could be triggering pain in your jaw.

How are pain signals from visceral receptors referred to the body surface?

Pain signals from visceral receptors are "referred" to the body surface by: The convergence of first order afferent neurons from the skin and visceral organs on the same second-order neurons in the spinal cord.

What are the three types of abdominal pain?

There are four types of abdominal pain: upper, lower, right-sided and left-sided.

What are some examples of referred pain?

Referred pain is when the pain you feel in one part of your body is actually caused by pain or injury in another part of your body. For example, an injured pancreas could be causing pain in your back, or a heart attack could be triggering pain in your jaw.

What are the three types of pain?

There are 3 widely accepted pain types relevant for musculoskeletal pain:Nociceptive pain (including nociceptive inflammatory pain)Neuropathic pain.Nociplastic pain.

What is the difference between visceral and parietal pain?

Visceral pain is experienced when the walls of an organ are stretched and the nerves send signals to the brain. Due to the lack of nerves, the pain is poorly localized and often described as an ache or cramp. Parietal pain is caused by irritation of the peritoneal lining that surrounds the abdominal cavity.

What is the difference between neuropathic pain and nociceptive pain?

Neuropathic pain can occur from central nervous system brain injury caused by a stroke. Nociceptive pain is caused by tissue damage. Somatic pain is another term used for nociceptive pain. Idiopathic pain does not have an identified cause.

Where does visceral pain originate?

Visceral pain originates from abdominal organs and is often described as crampy or gnawing. Somatic pain originates from the skin, muscles, bones, and joints. Referred pain originates from a specific site, but the patient experiencing the pain feels it at another site along the innervating spinal nerve. Neuropathic pain is described as burning, painful numbness, or tingling.

What does it mean when your legs are drawn up?

According to the FLACC scale for pediatric pain assessment, kicking or the legs being drawn up is a strong sign indicating pain, as it would receive a 2. An occasional grimace or frown and whimpering are weaker signs of pain, as they would each warrant only a 1. Lying quietly is a normal activity and indicates the absence of pain; thus, it would receive a 0.

Where does pain nociception originate?

Pain nociception has various locations. Visceral pain originates from abdominal organs; patients often describe this pain as crampy or gnawing. Somatic pain originates from skin, muscles, bones, and joints; patients usually describe somatic pain as sharp (D'Arcy, 2014). Cutaneous pain derives from the dermis, epidermis, and subcutaneous tissues. It is often burning or sharp, such as with a partial-thickness burn. Referred pain originates from a specifi c site, but the person experiencing it feels the pain at another site along the innervating spinal nerve (Fig. 6.3).

What is subcutaneous pain?

The nurse should document the client's pain as subcutaneous level pain, which is indicated by the throbbing pain. Pain at the epidermis level is a burning sensation. Pain at the dermis level is superficial and localized. Somatic pain develops from injury to muscles, tendons, and joints.

What medications can be used to treat chronic pain?

To treat some chronic pain conditions, health care providers may prescribe medications that increase serotonin levels, such as tricyclic antidepressants and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, to modulate incoming pain stimuli. Opiates, antidepressants, and calcium channel blockers are pharmacological alternatives in the treatment of chronic pain. ACE inhibitors are not routinely prescribed for chronic pain conditions.

What are the physiologic responses to pain?

Sleeplessness, perspiration, and increased heart rate are physiologic responses to pain. Pain elicits a stress response in the human body that triggers the sympathetic nervous system. Hyperglycemia, not hypoglycemia, and decreased, not increased, intestinal motility are physiologic responses to pain.

What does "pain" mean in aging?

c. Pain indicates a pathologic condition or an injury and is not a normal process of aging.

What happens to an affected extremity?

a. Affected extremity will eventually regain its function.

Can infants be assessed for pain?

a. Pain in infants can only be assessed by physiologic changes, such as an increased heart rate.

What is neuropathic pain?

Neuropathic pain results from abnormal processing of the pain message. Neuropathic pain does not adhere to the typical and predictable phases inherent in nociceptive pain.

How long does pain last after injury?

Acute pain is short-term and self-limiting, often follows a predictable trajectory, and dissipates after an injury heals. Chronic pain lasts 6 months or longer ; the pain persists after the predicted trajectory. Persistent pain is another term for chronic pain. Breakthrough pain starts again or escalates before the next scheduled analgesic dose.

What is the first phase of nociceptive pain?

Transduction is the first phase of nociceptive pain. During this phase, injured tissue releases chemicals that propagate the pain message; an action potential moves along an afferent fiber to the spinal cord. During transmission (the second phase), the pain impulse moves from the level of the spinal cord to the brain. The third phase is perception; the person has conscious awareness of a painful sensation. In phase four, modulation, the neurons from the brainstem release neurotransmitters that block the pain impulse.

What is the most reliable indicator of chronic pain?

The most important and reliable indicator for chronic pain is the patient's self-report. Chronic pain is transmitted on a cellular level, and current technology such as MRI cannot reliably detect this process. Chronic pain is transmitted on a cellular level, and current technology such as tissue enzyme levels cannot reliably detect this process. Chronic pain is transmitted on a cellular level, and blood drug levels cannot reliably detect this process.

What is the pain rating for dementia?

An older adult patient with dementia has a pain rating of 5 on the Pain Assessment in Advanced Dementia (PAINAD) scale. The nurse should:

How does gender affect pain sensitivity?

Gender differences are influenced by societal expectation, hormones, and genetic makeup. Hormonal changes are found to have strong influences on pain sensitivity for women. Age has not been found to influence pain sensitivity in women. Parity has not been found to influence pain sensitivity in women. Weight has not been found to influence pain sensitivity in women.

Which system does the nociceptors carry pain signals to?

Nociceptors carry the pain signal to the central nervous system by two primary sensory (or afferent) fibers. Perception indicates the conscious awareness of a painful sensation. Modulation inhibits the pain message producing an analgesic effect. Referred pain is pain felt at a particular site that originates from another location.

What is the first phase of nociceptive pain?

Transduction is the first phase of nociceptive pain. During this phase, injured tissue releases chemicals that propagate the pain message; an action potential moves along an afferent fiber to the spinal cord. During transmission (the second phase), the pain impulse moves from the level of the spinal cord to the brain.

What happens in phase 4 of neurotransmitter release?

In phase four, modulation, the neurons from the brainstem release neurotransmitters that block the pain impulse.

How long does chronic pain last?

Acute pain is short-term and self-limiting, often follows a predictable trajectory, and dissipates after an injury heals. Chronic pain lasts 6 months or longer; the pain persists after the predicted trajectory. Persistent pain is another term for chronic pain.

Which system does the nociceptors carry pain signals to?

Nociceptors carry the pain signal to the central nervous system by two primary sensory (or afferent) fibers. Perception indicates the conscious awareness of a painful sensation. Modulation inhibits the pain message producing an analgesic effect.

What is the most reliable indicator of chronic pain?

The most important and reliable indicator for chronic pain is the patient's self-report.

What is referred pain?

Referred pain is pain felt at a particular site that originates from another location.

How long does it take to reassess pain?

A) reassess the pain level in 3 to 4 hours.

What is the best treatment for visceral pain?

Treatment of visceral pain includes: 1 OTC Medication: Some of the over-the-counter (OTC) non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) such as Aleve (naproxen) and aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) are blood thinners that can, in some cases, end up exacerbating the cause of the discomfort. Tylenol (acetaminophen), however, is generally safe for the treatment of visceral pain. 1  Use it as directed because an acetaminophen overdose is dangerous for your liver. 2 Prescription pain medication: For severe pain, opioids such as codeine and morphine may also be used. 5  Opioids can cause unpleasant side effects, including constipation and sleepiness, and they also may result in tolerance and/or addiction. Nevertheless, these powerful medications can help you temporarily deal with post-surgical pain or cope until the cause of your visceral pain is identified and addressed. 3 Pain injections: For persistent visceral pain, injections of pain medications near the area of pain, or near the nerve that transmits the pain, may be considered. 6  This is an option only if the cause of the pain is diagnosed and any health concerns are addressed. 4 Medical or surgical intervention: Some causes of abdominal visceral pain, such as an abdominal aortic aneurysm rupture or appendicitis, are life-threatening and require emergency surgery. Abdominal pain can also be triggered by an infection or cancer, both of which require timely diagnosis and specially tailored treatment.

What is the pain of radiation?

Radiation and Referred Pain. Symptoms. Key Features. Diagnosis. Treatment. Visceral pain is the pain you feel from your internal organs, such as your stomach, bladder, uterus, or rectum. It a type of nociceptive pain, which means that is caused by medical conditions that produce inflammation, pressure, or an injury.

What are the symptoms of a visceral sprain?

Other symptoms may accompany visceral pain, such as nausea, sweating, paleness, changes in blood pressure, heart rate, and temperature. 1 

What causes abdominal pain?

Medical or surgical intervention: Some causes of abdominal visceral pain, such as an abdominal aortic aneurysm rupture or appendicitis, are life-threatening and require emergency surgery. Abdominal pain can also be triggered by an infection or cancer, both of which require timely diagnosis and specially tailored treatment.

What are sensory nerves?

The sensory nerves in your organs have pain receptors called nociceptors, which send signals to the spinal cord and brain to alert you of illness or injury. 1  The sensory nerves are triggered when the nerves in and around the internal organs detect compression, stretching, tearing, or tiny areas of damage from infectious organisms such as viruses.

What is the OTC for pain?

OTC Medication: Some of the over-the-counter (OTC) non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) such as Aleve (naproxen) and aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) are blood thinners that can, in some cases, end up exacerbating the cause of the discomfort.

What happens if you cut your finger with a knife?

If you cut your finger with a knife, you would experience sharp, rapid, and superficial somatic pain. Because of the high density of nociceptors in your finger, as well as more detailed mapping of sensation in your brain corresponding to somatic pain, you can localize exactly which part of the finger is cut. 4 .