An elderly patient with a compression fracture of the spine says, "I've had plenty of pain in my lifetime, but never anything like this. I feel like I'm being stabbed." A nurse could correctly respond:
A) "The type of pain you're feeling is radiating pain. Because the pain originates in a nerve, it spreads to other areas of the body."
B) "The type of pain you're feeling is neuropathic pain. Instead of pain in the surrounding tissue that the nerve is relaying to the brain, it is pain caused by pressure on the nerve itself."
C) "The type of pain you're feeling is deep somatic pain. This is often caused by fractures and is more intense than other kinds of pain."
D) "Your pain must feel more intense than pain you've felt previously because your pain 'gate' is open. It's possible that massage or a distraction like reading will help the pain."

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The symptoms described by the patient suggest that they are experiencing neuropathic pain. Neuropathic pain is typically described as a stabbing, shooting, or burning pain caused by pressure or damage to a nerve, rather than pain in the surrounding tissue.

An Elderly Patient with a Compression Fracture of the Spine