FRCA Notes


Pain Pathways


  • If one were answering a viva question on pain pathways, one might choose to start with an overview of the journey, namely:
    1. Transduction
    2. Transmission
    3. Modulation
    4. Perception

Acute Pain

  • Pain of recent onset, limited duration and with an identifiable cause
  • Pain is <3months duration
  • It is important to remember that pain is a protective evolutionary mechanism!

Transitional Pain

  • Transitional pain is a relatively novel concept
  • Covers the period during which there is peripheral and central sensitisation of nociceptors
  • Is a period of potential intervention to prevent chronic pain arising