The sensitization model to explain how chronic pain exists without tissue damage

Pain Management Nursing : Official Journal of the American Society of Pain Management Nurses
C P van Wilgen, D Keizer

Abstract

The interaction of nurses with chronic pain patients is often difficult. One of the reasons is that chronic pain is difficult to explain, because no obvious anatomic defect or tissue damage is present. There is now enough evidence available indicating that chronic pain syndromes such as low back pain, whiplash, and fibromyalgia share the same pathogenesis, namely, sensitization of pain modulating systems in the central nervous system. Sensitization is a neuropathic pain mechanism in which neurophysiologic changes may be as important as behavioral, psychologic, and environmental mechanisms. The sensitization model provides nurses with an opportunity to explain pain as a physical cause related to changes in the nervous system. This explanation may improve the patient's motivation to discuss the importance of psychosocial factors that contribute to the maintenance of chronic pain. In this article, sensitization is described as a model that can be used for the explanation of the existence of chronic pain. The sensitization model is described using a metaphor. The sensitization model is a useful tool for nurses in their communication and education toward patients.

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Citations

Mar 20, 2014·Pain Medicine : the Official Journal of the American Academy of Pain Medicine·Matteo CastaldoLars Arendt-Nielsen
Jun 3, 2014·Pain Management Nursing : Official Journal of the American Society of Pain Management Nurses·Brian English
Sep 22, 2015·The Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy·Melanie L PlinsingaPaul van Wilgen
Jul 5, 2013·Journal for Specialists in Pediatric Nursing : JSPN·Alison TwycrossMargot Latimer
Nov 17, 2015·European Journal of Pain : EJP·S M MyrtveitC S Nielsen
May 9, 2013·Journal of Clinical Nursing·Alison Twycross, G Allen Finley
Jan 8, 2014·Journal for Specialists in Pediatric Nursing : JSPN·Alison Twycross, G Allen Finley
Dec 24, 2014·Psychology & Health·Julie K Cremeans-SmithDouglas L Delahanty
Aug 25, 2016·Pain Management Nursing : Official Journal of the American Society of Pain Management Nurses·Liz Bettini, Ki Moore
Mar 18, 2017·The Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine·Daniela MehechRichard D Wilson
May 20, 2017·Disability and Rehabilitation·Amarins J WijmaC Paul van Wilgen
Mar 8, 2019·Australasian Journal on Ageing·Michael David Cory O'BrienBrian Draper
Aug 6, 2014·Current Pain and Headache Reports·Deepak SharanRameshkumar Ranganathan
Nov 2, 2019·Pain Medicine : the Official Journal of the American Academy of Pain Medicine·Maichou LorMiroslav Backonja
Feb 21, 2013·Rheumatology International·Gabriela Rocha LaurettiAnita Leocadia Mattos
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Aug 1, 2021·Scandinavian Journal of Pain·Sam KeenAmanda C de C Williams

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