Pain is what the patient says it is.
Pain can by physical or psychological and one often affects
the other. People use lots of different words to describe
pain like, throbbing, aching, burning, like a sharp needle,
dull ache, head ache. The pain you experience is affected
by how old you are, what gender you are and even your culture
and where you live and how you live. One thing is for sure,
however we describe pain it is always an unpleasant experience.
There are two basic forms of physical pain: acute and chronic.
Acute pain, for the most part, results from disease, inflammation,
or injury to tissues. It is immediate and usually of a short
duration. Acute pain is a normal response to injury and may
be accompanied by anxiety or emotional distress. The cause
of acute pain can usually be diagnosed and treated.
Chronic pain is continuous pain that persists for more than
3 months, and beyond the time of normal healing. It ranges
from mild to severe and can last weeks, months, or years to
a lifetime. The cause of chronic pain is not always evident,
although it can be brought on by chronic conditions such as
arthritis and fibromyalgia. Chronic pain often interferes
with our quality of life, sleep, and productivity.
With some rheumatic diseases, the sources of pain may include
inflammation of the synovial membrane (tissue that lines the
joints), the tendons, or the ligaments; muscle strain; and
muscle fatigue. Muscle inflammation is a part of other painful
disorders such as polymyositis (characterized by inflamed
and tender muscles throughout the body, particularly those
of the shoulder and hip) and dermatomyositis (characterized
by patchy red rashes around the knuckles, eyes, and other
parts of the body, along with chronic inflammation of the
muscles).
In other cases, such as with myofascial pain syndromes, the
cause of the pain is unknown. Myofascial pain syndromes affect
sensitive areas known as trigger points, located within the
body's muscles. It is important to consult your doctor to
help you find the cause and correct treatment for your pain.
Research
Glucosamine. A nutraceutical in osteoarthritis. Phoon S,
Manolios N. Westmead Hospital, New South Wales
We reviewed the literature on the efficacy and safety of
glucosamine in osteoarthritis. Recent research suggests
that it may not only provide symptomatic pain relief, but
may have a role in chondroprotection. Medline
Glucosamine therapy compared to Ibuprofen for joint pain.
Ruane R, Griffiths P. Primary Care and Community Pharmacy,
Kings College London
To determine the effectiveness of oral glucosamine with ibuprofen
for the relief of joint pain in osteoarthritis a mini review
of double blind randomised controlled trials comparing the
two was undertaken. The population was adult patients diagnosed
with osteoarthritis at any site. The outcome was arthritic
pain reduction. Glucosamine's pain relieving effects
may be due to its cartilage rebuilding properties; these disease
modifying effects are not seen with simple analgesics and
are of particular benefit. In practice glucosamine can be
used as an alternative to anti-inflammatory drugs and analgesics
or as a useful adjunct to standard analgesic therapy. Medline.
Remember none of the information is intended to replace the advice of your Doctor or other healthcare practitioner. Please make sure you ask their advice before you follow any information or take any of the products on this site.
|
