Overview of pain management options

摘要

Pain is any unpleasant sensation or emotional experience, originating from a specific body region due to actual or potential tissue damage. Pain is a complex experience involving pathophysiological and psychological pathways that are often very difficult to quantitate, validate and interpret in animals. Pain usually arises from the activation of nociceptors (free nerve endings attached to afferent nerve fibers), which are present in superficial as well as deep tissue structures. Nociceptors are stimulated by thermal, mechanical and/or chemical stimuli which can cause tissue damage.