Another dimension of pain

Abstract

Pain is usually regarded as of two types, pain caused by tissue damage, also called nociceptive pain, and pain caused by nerve damage, also called neuropathic pain. A less known third category is psychogenic pain, which becomes an integral part, in due course of time, of the first two types. It is pain that is affected by psychological factors. Pain physicians tens to focus usually on the first, less commonly on the second and very rarely on the last type of pain. This ignorance may be the prime factor in failure of otherwise more rational pain management regimen. It needs to be adequately addressed, and expert help from qualified psychologist and/or a psychiatrist may be required in selected patients to incorporate body-mind techniques in the pain management.
Citation: Khan TH.Another dimension of pain. Anaesth Pain & Intensive Care 2015;19(1):1-2