Pain cuts across gender, age, and disease and is the most common reason people seek health-related treatment. Certain pain states do not respond to standard therapies, leaving nurses with few options to successfully care for patients in pain. Preclinical studies use many models to investigate the mechanisms and treatments for pain states similar to those encountered in humans. Within Cervero and Laird's conceptual framework of experimental pain, the authors present several commonly used preclinical models. Phase 1 pain models measure responses to a brief, controlled stimulus that minimizes tissue damage. Phase 2 pain models use topical or injected irritants, which cause inflammation and persistent pain that change peripheral and central neuronal responses. Phase 3 pain models produce neuropathic pain through partial or complete ligation of peripheral nerves. The use of preclinical models of pain can lead to the development of better pharmacological and nonpharmacological therapies that enhance nursing practice.
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