Types of pain: finding a drug regimen that works

Pain is an almost universal experience, though the human pain sensory system can sometimes go awry, allowing pain to continue past its useful purpose. Managing pain is an imprecise science-almost an art. Approaching pain by type and learning how patients might communicate each different ache, throb, or twinge can improve treatment planning. Visceral/soft tissue pain, bone pain, neuropathic pain, pleuritic pain, colicky pain, or muscular pain manifest differently and respond to interventions differently. In the long-term care setting, cognitive impairment can be a barrier to assessing pain. For patients who have chronic pain, finding a drug regimen that works usually takes time and trials.