Pain is a very common and increasing health problem both in the world and in our country. The concept of pain is defined by the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) as "sensory and emotional experience associated with or defined during tissue damage or potential tissue damage". Investigation of the cause of pain, diagnosis and effective treatment by collaborating with different specialties when necessary, is only possible in centers where people with special training in this field work.
Pain is analyzed in 2 groups as acute and chronic. Acute pain is a harbinger of various diseases. Acute pain is a symptom of a disease. It is often a harbinger of tissue damage in the body. Acute pain is an important part of the body's alarm system. Its presence indicates that there is a disorder in the body and allows the patient to consult a physician. Chronic pain is pain that lasts longer than 6 months (in some cases 3 months) and is no longer an alarm system. Chronic pain is not a harbinger of disease, but a serious health problem that needs to be treated on its own. People suffering from chronic pain lose their productivity and activity. This often leads to the patient becoming withdrawn and depressed. Depression makes the person more sensitive, lowers the pain threshold and causes the pain to intensify. Chronic pain is a serious health problem that affects not only the patient suffering from pain, but also the patient's immediate environment. Therefore, pain is a multidisciplinary phenomenon that should be evaluated by a team. The main medical branches dealing with chronic pain are Algology, Anesthesiology, Neurology, Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Neurosurgery, Orthopedics and Traumatology, Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology.
Prof. Dr. Haktan KARAMAN
ALGOLOGY Manager