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Section XI. DRUGS
1-57. PAIN
a. Pain serves an important role. Pain can cause a person to allow injured parts time to heal and to seek medical care for disease or tissue damage. However, pain frequently persists long after its warning purpose has been achieved. Nursing care should be directed toward reducing the perception of (and reaction to) pain and enhancing the analgesic effect of medications.
b. Pain can be classified in various ways. It is often classified by intensity, such as mild, moderate, or severe. Pain may be classified by its source as superficial, visceral, or somatic. Superficial pain arises from the skin or mucous membranes. Visceral pain has its origin in smooth muscles and organ systems. Somatic pain arises from skeletal muscle, ligaments, vessels, or joints. Pain is also classified by the length of time it persists.
(1) Acute. Acute pain is typically caused by tissue injury. It has a sudden onset and it usually subsides with treatment. Acute pain generally lasts a few days.
(2) Subacute. Subacute pain is similar to acute pain and is expected to end when the tissue heals. It may persist for days or weeks.
(3) Recurrent. Recurrent pain is intermittent bouts of what is typically acute pain. The underlying cause of the pain may not be known.
(4) Chronic. Chronic pain is pain that persists longer than 6 months.
