Can you imagine pain?

This question can be answered with a very clear “no” according to the current state of science. Even if no organic correlate for the pain can be found after extensive medical diagnostics, it is still true that the pain is real. The patient suffers from it.

A close connection between pain and psyche also exists in acute pain. In chronic pain, however, it is usually a psychological wound that leads to pain. This can be a conflict in the family, stress at work, or an unprocessed traumatic experience.

What types of pain are there?

On the one hand, pain can be divided into acute and chronic pain due to its duration. Acute pain is limited in time, while chronic pain lasts longer than 3 to 6 months. Acute pain is usually the classic nociceptor pain, which indicates possible tissue damage.

The neuropathic pain or nerve pain is to be distinguished from this. It occurs when nerve cells break down. Neuropathic pain is usually described as shooting and a dull burning sensation.

The third group is psychosomatic pain. Here, a mental suffering is responsible for the pain. Often there are also mixed forms (mixed pain).

A good example is back pain. These can be perceived as acute pain due to wear and tear. But they are also intensified by psychological stress. Often the nerve roots in the area of the spine are also irritated. This adds the neuropathic component.

Painkillers

Painkillers have very different effects. Roughly speaking, they can be divided into two groups: non-opioid and opioid analgesics. Non-opioid analgesics include many common household drugs such as ASS (Aspirin ®), ibuprofen or paracetmaol, which inhibit an enzyme (cyclooxygenase COX) that is responsible for the perception of pain in the brain.

They are freely available and can be taken in case of severe headache or toothache. The opioid-containing analgesics have a completely different mechanism of action.They bind to specific opioid receptors in the central and peripheral nervous system. Their analgesic effect is significantly stronger.

For most of these drugs you even need a special prescription from your doctor, because these drugs fall under the narcotics law. They have a high dependency potential, so they are only used in cases of very severe pain. They are used after operations or for cancer patients. Morphine, codeine and methadone are known representatives of this group. They are available in tablet form, for injection through the vein, or in the form of pain patches that release the active ingredient over a period of several days.