A Patient Recovering from a Broken Leg Asks Why the Pain

A patient recovering from a broken leg asks why the pain is so sharp. What should the nurse explain about acute pain?

A) The pain signal releases catecholamines.
B) The pain signal reduces blood flow to the gut.
C) The pain signal travels along nerve fibers to the spinal cord.
D) The pain signal travels up to the brain portion called the thalamus.
E) The pain signal spreads throughout the cortex, limbic system, and brainstem.