Overview of Pain: Classification and Concepts
Mark V. Boswell, B. Eliot Cole in Weiner's Pain Management, 2005
Healing nerves and tissue cause pain by the following: Inflammation is part of the healing process; the natural chemicals involved are caustic to pain nerve endings. The treatment dilemma here is if you stop the pain with anti-inflammatory medications, do you not also stop the healing?Consequent muscle spasms occur. Spasm or cramping muscles change, usually decrease circulation; ischemia causes pain by causing a caustic microenvironment around nerve endings. In addition, the spasm/cramping muscles are causing pressure on the A-delta and C-fibers that occur in the myofascial tissue planes.Improper healing of any tissue can reasonably contort it and cause pain and dysfunction; such nociceptive pain is caused by pressure on and/or caustic chemical environment around the nerve endings; neuropathic pain would come from the changed neuroanatomy, thus changed neurophysiology, and also from the changes in the chemical microenvironment.
Pain Is a Common Problem
Harold G. Koenig in Chronic Pain, 2013
The most common form of head pain is the tension headache. This kind of headache is a steady ache on both sides of the head. The pain is slight to moderate in intensity, and may last hours, weeks, or months. The muscles of the head and neck are sensitive to psychological and social stress, often going into partial or full spasm during times of distress. Muscle tension causes a reduction in blood flow to the muscles. This reduced blood flow causes muscle ischemia (lack of oxygen in the tissues), resulting in the release of inflammatory substances that stimulate pain receptors. Muscle relaxants, application of hot or cold compresses, reduction of stress, and pain relievers help to reduce muscle spasms and ease discomfort.
Neuromuscular disorders
Ashley W. Blom, David Warwick, Michael R. Whitehouse in Apley and Solomon’s System of Orthopaedics and Trauma, 2017
Painful muscle spasms occur in some patients and, if so, they tend to worsen with time. As with the other hereditary peripheral neuropathies, the more common orthopaedic complaints are a progressive cavo-varus foot deformity that is usually rigid, the development of clawed toes and a scoliosis. In general, the earlier the onset of the disease the greater is the risk of significant curve progression. In the more severe cases, functional and neurological deterioration may be rapid with the development of a cardiomyopathy and death in early to mid adulthood. Despite the potentially poor prognosis, surgical correction of foot and spine deformities is worthwhile.
Black widow spider bite in Johannesburg
Published in Southern African Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2018
Teressa Sumy Thomas, Alan Kemp, Kim Pieton Roberg
Following the bite, he experienced the typical features of latrodectism. Symptoms included intense muscle pain and rigidity over the bite site, which radiated to his trunk, arms and neck. On examination he had a mild tachycardia. Muscle spasm was evident. He was flushed, sweaty and anxious (Figure 3). Inspection revealed an erythematous area on the right lower quadrant of his abdomen, which was thought to be the bite mark (see Figure 3). His blood pressure, temperature and neurological state remained stable throughout his admission. Blood investigations revealed a mild leucocytosis of 13.61 x109 cells/l and a creatine kinase of 1171 U/l. The remainder of the full blood count, urea and electrolytes, calcium, magnesium, phosphate, C-reactive protein and liver function tests were all normal. A toxicology screen for over-the-counter medication (paracetamol, barbiturates, salicylates and benzodiazepines), cerebrospinal fluid examination and blood cultures were all negative.
On medical treatment for ureteral stone expulsion
Published in Scandinavian Journal of Urology, 2018
Spasm may be defined as a violent, usually limited contraction of a muscular wall [24]. It has been widely assumed that spasm plays a major role in ureteral stone disease. However, Kiil tried intensively in the 1950s to demonstrate spasm in the human upper urinary tract and failed to do so [24]. He also noticed that ‘perusal of the pertinent clinical literature shows that a conclusive demonstration of spasm in the ureter has not yet appeared’. That statement is still valid. However, spasm continues to be used to explain why a stone does not pass. In 2006, Lipkin and Shah wrote that ‘the likely mechanism that α-blockers use in stone passage has been to reduce ureteral spasm, increase pressure proximal to the stone, and relax the ureter in the region of and distal to the stone’ [27]. Defects in the contrast medium ahead of ureteral stones were described as spasm in a textbook on radiology in 2014. In 1968, the author proved that these defects were due to a wedging of the mucosa and a traumatic swelling of the ureteral wall ahead of the stone. His studies in rabbits used a pressure of 250 mmHg above the stone for 30 min, but the stone did not pass. It is hard to believe that spasm in ureteral smooth muscle can withstand such a high pressure.
Work-related musculoskeletal disorders among workers in an MDF furniture factory in eastern Thailand
Published in International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics, 2018
Anamai Thetkathuek, Parvena Meepradit
In order to minimize bending, the working posture should be adjusted according to the height of the front of the workstation. Stretching the muscles during breaks is encouraged to reduce extended muscle spasms. As well as administrative controls, such as worker rotation, greater task variety and increased rest should be provided for workers so as to reduce the risk factors for the development of MSDs. The results of this study show that the surfaces of working areas were too hard, and therefore floor standing areas should be improved by providing better footwear or anti-fatigue mats, which corresponds to the results from Gell et al. [38] showing a relationship between fatigue in the lower part of the body and the use of shoes and reducing the amount of standing required while working. The study by Gell et al. [38] suggests that standing on a carpet can reduce such fatigue.
Related Knowledge Centers
- Dystonia
- Hypertonia
- Muscle Contraction
- Tendon
- Muscle Tone
- Ligament
- Skeletal Muscle
- Cramp
- Electrolyte Imbalance
- Tonicity