A client reports that chronic pain is usually tolerable until under stress and then the pain becomes unbearable.Which should the nurse respond to this client?
A)"Stress causes endorphins to be released, increasing the pain."
B)"Stress causes the gateway to pain to close, increasing the pain."
C)"Stress causes the thalamus to open the gateway to pain, increasing the pain."
D)"Stress causes the thalamus to close the gateway to pain, increasing the pain."

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Stress can lead to an increase in pain perception by affecting the brain's pain processing pathways, including the thalamus, which plays a key role in sensory signal processing. The statement that stress causes the thalamus to open the gateway to pain, thereby increasing the pain, aligns with the understanding that stress can exacerbate pain perception by influencing the central nervous system's processing of pain signals.

A Client Reports That Chronic Pain Is Usually Tolerable Until