This question goes to all the medical guppies out there!
When you’re in pain and take a painkiller, how does the brain recognise which part of the body the is in pain?
I have always wondered about this - it may have a simple answer but I have yet to find out!
Thank U
Re: Our pain & pain killers!
when you get hit on ur toe for example, certain compounds are released that stimulate your nerves. These nerves carry the signal to your brain and you realize the pain.
Now different pain killers work at diferent levels, most of them decrease the levels of the compounds that stimulate your nerves. Some more stronger pain killers can work directly in the brain and decrease the stimulating of the nerves.
So if you have pain in two body parts, taking a pain killer will stop both pains
Re: Our pain & pain killers!
wow interesting nescio, thanks for that!!
Re: Our pain & pain killers!
Here you go…enjoy…
http://www.abpi.org.uk/publications/publication_details/targetPain/tp2_anatomy.asp
In a nutshell, a lot of the common painkillers we use do not act on the brain but on the chemical mediators released at the sight of the pain. The more stronger ones such as those based on opiods are a little more complex and involve acting on pathways in the nervous system.
Re: Our pain & pain killers!
very informative starsky - mucho gracius!