Nursing Mgmt of chronic pain Flashcards
Primary reason why people seek medical care
Pain
Pain is what the patient says
Always true unless they are incapable of saying they are in pain, in which we use another scale
Afferent Fibers
To the brain
Efferent Fibers
To the body, away from brain
(Efferent=Effect)
Transduction
-Conversion of pain to an electrical impulse through the nociceptors
Which drugs facilitate, descending pain modulation
These are going to be the adjuvant medications that their primary action is not pain relief, but their secondary action affects pain
-These act on serotonin or Na+ channels to decrease pain
-Anti-epileptics (Gabapentinoids, Na channel agents)
-Anti Depressants (TCAs and SNRI)
-Cannabinoids
-Ketamine
What type of pain to adjuvant medications work on
Neuropathic pain, but also nociceptive pain
OLD CART
Onset
Location
Duration
Characteristics
Assosiated symptoms (N+V, headache)
Relieving factors (rest)
Treatment (Drugs)
Non-verbal signs of pain
-Moaning, Crying, irritability, grimacing, Insomnia, Rigid posture, pacing, Elevated BP HR RR, Nausea, Diaphoresis, Teeth grinding
-Use the FLACC scale for this
When questioning someone with chronic pain what should you do
Ask them indirect questions, because what their normal is may be someone else’s unbearable
Acute pain
Pain that exist in a short period of time
-Caused by injury, surgery,… Usually some identifiable cause and resolves once its reated
Chronic Pain
Pain that has been occurring for over 6 mo, and continues after the injury is healed, does not have to have a definite injury that is linked to it
-There is aggressing factors and reliving factors for each person
-Can have other symptoms such as tense muscles, lack of energy, change in appetite, depression, anxiety, fear of re-injury, anger
-Chronic pain affects a persons ability to work, enjoy life or care for themselves
-Polypharm, street pharm
Breakthrough Pain
Sudden increase in pain, those that already have chronic conditions
-During this period they may need more or alternative medications to manage pain
T/F there is a discrimination based on race and the treatment of pain
True AA, Hispanic and AM are less likely to receive adequate pain treatment than those who are white
Chronic: Episodic pain
Pain that occurs sporadically, lasting hours to weeks
-Arthritis, migraines, Sickle cell
Cancer pain
Caused by tumor progression, related pathological process, invasive procedures, treatment toxicity, infection, physical imitations
-Chemo can cause neuropathic
-Pain is progressive