Pain Flashcards
What is pain?
unpleasant sensory & emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage
Pain is whatever the PATIENT SAYS!!!!!
Experience of pain is individualized
What is acute pain?
sudden onset linked to specific injury or illness (surgery trauma, burns)
Subgroups- somatic and visceral
What is visceral pain?
arises from within a body cavity like the thorax, abdomen and pelvis. (Endometriosis, bladder pain)
What is somatic pain?
Sharp pain that is localized to a specific area of injury (Bone fracture, strained muscle, burn)
What is chronic pain?
Pain lasting longer than six months; usually derived from underlying health conditions (cancer, osteoarthritis)
Subgroups- recurrent, intractable, benign, progressive, idiopathic
What is Idiopathic Pain?
pain of unknown origin. This is the term healthcare providers use for chronic (long-term) pain, lasting 6 months or longer, that has no identifiable cause.
What is recurrent pain?
exacerbation of pain that occurs in addition to otherwise stable persistent pain
What is progressive pain?
pain that steadily worsens over time
What is intractable pain?
constant debilitating pain that doesn’t go away.
What is neuropathic pain?
your nervous system is damaged or not working correctly. Patient often describe this pain as burning, sharp and shooting (Sciatica, diabetic neuropathy)
What is breakthrough pain (pain-flare)?
exacerbations of severe pain
Incident- brief and caused by voluntary action such as movement
End Dose Failure- episodes of pain occur before the next analgesic is due
Idiopathic- no known cause
What is central pain?
neurological condition caused by damage to or dysfunction of the central nervous system (CNS), which includes the brain, brainstem, and spinal cord.
what is phantom pain?
pain that feels like it’s coming from a body part that’s no longer there.
What is psychogenic pain?
pain that is primarily caused by psychological factors, such as depression and anxiety
Pain Assessment
Location- Ask patient to point to the area of pain on the body
Intensity - Ask patient to rate the intensity of the pain using reliable pain assessment tool
Quality- Ask the patient to describe how the pain feels (burning or shooting)
Onset/Duration- Ask the patient when the pain started, what activities were they performing when it began and if it constant or intermittent
Relieving Factors- What makes the pain better and what makes it worse
what is physiological response to pain?
Increase HR, RR BP, sweating, pallor, anxiety, dilated pupils
How often should the nurse assess for pain?
the nurse should ask the client about pain frequently and assess systemically
When are analgesics typically used?
The client with a pain score above 5 qualifies for pain medication
A pain score below 5 is treat with non-pharma logical methods and NSAIDS
1. non-opioid
2. Opioid with NSAID
3. Opioid
Risk Factors for Infants
Neonates- heel sticks, venipuncture and circumcision
Critically Ill Infants- multiple procedures
Infants/Toddlers - no cognitive skills or communication to verbalize, report and describe pain
FLACC Pain Scale
Used for young children under the age of 2 yr., nonverbal, intubated
Face/ Legs/ Activity/Cry/ Consolability
Risk Factor for Older Adults
Pain is NOT a normal part of aging
At risk for undertreatment of pain
Not able to report pain because of illness or cognitive impairment
Other Populations at Risk
Women have lower pain threshold
Women have higher prevalence of chronic pain
Cultural or religious convictions pose a barrier to reporting pain
Military Veterans
What are Barriers to Pain Control?
Regulations set forth by govt for controlled substances
Delay in giving pain medication
Prescribing only minimal amounts of pain medication to prevent misuse
Inadequate knowledge of pain management
POOR assessment of pain
Lack of availability of controlled substances
What are Barriers to Pain Control?
Failure of patient to report pain Patient not discussing pain due to worry of progression of disease Believe pain is inevitable Believe pain bearing is “tough” Cultural expectations not to report pain Want to be good Fear of becoming an addict Side effects Financial barriers
