pain clinical Flashcards
what is pain
unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage
how is pain classified
duration - acute or chronic
mechanism- nociceptive, neuropathic or neoplastic
what is acute pain
sudden onset
resolved by treating cause
<6m
OTC/WHO ladder for treatment
what is chronic pain
gradual onset
usually the result of a condition that is heard to diagnose/treat
>6m duration
musculoskeletal pain
what is nociceptive pain
pain preventing or in response to tissue damage
what is neuropathic pain
malfunction of the nervous system or nerve damage
what is oncoplastic pain
altered nociception in the absence of tissue or nerve damage
what are the 3 rules of the WHO pain ladder
by the clock - as often as possible
by the mouth - unless not possible
by the ladder
what are the steps on the WHO pain ladder
- non-opioid (paracetamol, NSAIDs, COX)
- mild opioid (codeine, dihydrocodeine, tramadol)
- strong opioid (morphine, oxycodone, fentanyl)
what adjuvant therapies can be used for pain
neuropathy - AEDs (gaba, pregab and carba)
- TCAs/SSRIs
palliative bone pain - dexamethasone
non-pharmacolog - physio, exercise, physological treatment, acupuncture
what are opioids used for
acute pain and palliative care
opioid metabolism
CYP2D6 - varies between patients
opioid side s/e
N&V - may settle
constipation - co prescribed w/ laxatives
drowsiness/sedation
resp depression
renal function
addiction
what are the signs of opioid overdose
pinpoint pupils
hypoxia
resp depression
NEWS2
- RR <8
- O2 <85% on air
- tachycardia
- sedation
what are the non-pharmacological interventions for lower back pain and sciatica
- exercise and manual therapies
- psychological activities
- return to work programs
pharmacological treatment for lower back pain
- NSAIDS (GI/renal/age - PPI and stop date)
- weak opioids if NSAID C/I or not tolerated
- paracetmol alone not recommended
pharmacological treatment of sciatica
- no gabapentinoids, AEDs, benzos - stop if on
- limited evidence for NSAIDs
- no opioids
- epidural injections or surgery
how is osteoarthritis treated
- exercise/weight loss
- manual therapies
- oral/topical NSAID
- paracetamol/weak opioids considered
- intraarticular steroids
- joint replacement
how is neuropathic pain treated
- if initial C/I or not tolerated
amitriptyline/duloxetine/gaba/pregab - tramadol only for acute rescue therapy
- capsaicin can be used for local if oral not tolerated
what is palliative care
aim is to improve QoL at end of life
what pain relief is used in palliative care
24 hr simple analgesia or weak opioid
- PRN injection but if >3 then syringe driver
naloxone for toxicity
what is used to treat breathlessness in palliative care
opioid or midazolam
what is PCA
patient controlled analgesia - usually 1mg/ml morphine but if renal function reduced give fentanyl
monitoring for PCA
BP
pulse
RR
sedation
pain score
- hourly for 8
- every 2 for 8-24
- every 48 hours after