The physiologic effects of pain on the endocrine system

Forest Tennant, Forest Tennant

Abstract

Severe pain has profound physiologic effects on the endocrine system. Serum hormone abnormalities may result and these serve as biomarkers for the presence of severe pain and the need to replace hormones to achieve pain control. Initially severe pain causes a hyperarousal of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal system which results in elevated serum hormone levels such as adrenocorticotropin, cortisol, and pregnenolone. If the severe pain does not abate, however, the system cannot maintain its normal hormone production and serum levels of some hormones may drop below normal range. Some hormones are so critical to pain control that a deficiency may enhance pain and retard healing.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Pain stimulation of the hormone system causes adrenal, gonad and thyroid hormone levels to elevate in the serum. If pain remains uncontrolled for a considerable time period, hormonal depletion may occur, and serum levels drop below normal

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