Pain theories and their relevance to nursing practices

Pain is a feared but universal experience. Early pain theories focused on locating neurological pain fibers. However, when surgical interventions failed to control the pain, other explanations were sought. The interplay between practice and research has advanced our understanding and management of pain. Current pain theories explain pain as a physical, psychological and social experience. Nursing interventions that are multidimensional will have a better chance at ameliorating a patient's pain.