Dores

Dores is the Portuguese term for painful sensations and their emotional aspects. Pain is a subjective experience arising from actual or potential tissue damage and involves sensory, affective, and cognitive dimensions. It can be acute, lasting days to weeks, or chronic, persisting beyond typical healing.

Biologically, pain starts with nociceptors in skin, muscles, joints, and organs that detect noxious stimuli. Signals travel via A-delta and C fibers to the spinal cord and ascend through the spinothalamic tract to brain regions such as the somatosensory cortex, insula, anterior cingulate, and prefrontal areas. Modulation occurs at the spinal level and through central sensitization, which can amplify or prolong pain.

Pain types include nociceptive (somatic or visceral) and neuropathic, which results from nerve damage; some conditions involve mixed mechanisms. Causes range from injury and surgery to inflammation, chronic diseases such as arthritis or cancer, infections, and neuropathies.

Assessment relies on patient reports and scales such as the numerical rating scale or visual analog scale, with multidimensional tools used for chronic pain. Management typically uses a multimodal approach: nonprescription and prescription medications (NSAIDs, acetaminophen, antidepressants or anticonvulsants, and careful use of opioids when indicated), plus nonpharmacological strategies (physical therapy, exercise, heat or cold, relaxation, and cognitive behavioral therapy). Interventional procedures may be appropriate in selected cases.

Pain affects a large portion of the population and is a major driver of healthcare utilization and disability. Cultural, economic, and healthcare factors influence prevalence, reporting, and access to relief. Ongoing research aims to improve understanding of mechanisms and develop personalized strategies to prevent chronic pain.