In order to treat pain, it is important to attempt to define it. Webster s Dictionary defines pain as a sensation of hurting or strong discomfort in some part of the body caused by injury, disease, or functional disorder and transmitted through the functional nervous system. Furthermore, it is the sensation that one feels when hurt mentally or physically, especially distress, great anxiety, anguish, grief, etc. The International Society for the Study of Pain Management defines pain as an unpleasant sensory and an emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage or described in terms of such damage. Thus, pain is not merely to be identified with nociception.
Patients have affective responses to pain.
Ongoing pain may result in different problems to different people. Functional impairments may vary depending upon the patient s individual physical and emotional response to pain as well as the responsibilities involved in their life and vocational activities. Goals in pain management certainly involve the complete re-mediation of the nociceptive etiology whenever possible. However, there are times when the focus is on managing the pain. Functional goals must be addressed.