Nonpharmacologic Pain Management During Labor
Nonpharmacologic Pain Management During Labor ( 5 Questions)
A nurse is explaining the gate control theory of pain to a woman in labor who wants to use cutaneous stimulation as a nonpharmacologic pain management method.
What should the nurse say about how cutaneous stimulation works?
This is based on the gate control theory of pain, which describes how non-painful sensations can override and reduce painful sensations. According to this theory, there are neurological “gates” in the spinal cord that decide which pain signals pass through and which are kept out. When non-painful stimuli, such as cutaneous stimulation, activate large-diameter nerve fibers, they can close the gates and block the transmission of pain signals from small-diameter nerve fibers.
it confuses cutaneous stimulation with endogenous opioid system, which is another mechanism of pain modulation that involves the release of endorphins that act as natural pain relievers in the body.
it confuses cutaneous stimulation with stress-induced analgesia, which is another mechanism of pain modulation that involves the decrease of stress hormones that increase pain perception and anxiety.
it confuses cutaneous stimulation with counterirritation, which is another mechanism of pain modulation that involves the improvement of oxygenation to the affected area that reduces ischemia.
This is based on the gate control theory of pain, which describes how non-painful sensations can override and reduce painful sensations. According to this theory, there are neurological “gates” in the spinal cord that decide which pain signals pass through and which are kept out. When non-painful stimuli, such as cutaneous stimulation, activate large-diameter nerve fibers, they can close the gates and block the transmission of pain signals from small-diameter nerve fibers.
This reduces the perception of pain in the brain.