Methods of Pain Control: Review of Research and Literature

This article reviews methods of pain control to help the nurse gain an awareness of various interventions suggested by research. An overview of the neurophysiology of pain and the gate‐control theory of pain are presented. Considered are such interventions as medications, stimulation of the brain, cutaneous stimulation, stress‐induced analgesia, vaginal stimulation‐produced analgesia, acupuncture and acupressure, hypnosis, placebos, imagery, behavior modification, biofeedback, distraction and relaxation. Individualization of the nursing caw plan is encouraged to include patients as active participants who suggest alternative methods of pain control that they have found effective.