Pain management Flashcards
Learning Objectives
• At the end of the session, you will be able to
• Understand the importance of pain management
• Define, Classify and Describe different types of pain
• Describe the key steps in pain assessment
• Describe the principles of pain management
Compare and Contrast the different types pain
medications, including basic dose conversion and titration
- key features of drugs, specific dosage forms
- what to note when starting doses
- some dose titrations are key
- management of side effects as a whole class (N/V/Constipation)
1
The total concept of pain involves 4 key factors which are __, __, __ and __.
Physical
Psychological
Social
Spiritual
A poor __ or __ of pain can cause patients to over-report pain.
- past experience
2. anticipation
Pain is a __ and __ response that varies daily between individuals. It can reflect the quality of __ and may be evidence of __.
- physiologic
- psychological
- care/life
- under-treatment
Chronic pain is defined as pain that persists even after __. This duration varies depending on the __ and may last anywhere from 4-6wks to 3months.
- sufficient time provided for an insult/injury to heal
2. type of injury
There are 4 types of pain classified according to pathophysiology, which are __, __, __ and __.
Nociceptive Pain, Neuropathic Pain, Referred Pain and Ischemic Pain
Nociceptive pain is due to actual nociceptive input (in terms of __. It can be subdivided into __ and __.
- tissue damage
2. somatic and visceral pain
Somatic pain occurs when nociceptors are triggered by noxious stimuli (__, ___ or __ types). These signals are carried by small myelinated A delta fibers (__ stimuli) and C fibers (__) to the dorsal horn of the spinal cord.
- mechanical, thermal or chemical
- mechanical and thermal
- all three stimulus types
Somatic pain can be subdivided into __ and __ somatic pain. Somatic pain is __ to the site of injury, is constant and sometimes feels like it is __.
- cutaneous
- deep
- tender and localized
- throbbing or aching
Visceral pain is mediated by __ receptors. It is poorly __ and often referred to a __ which may be tender. Patients may find it difficult to pinpoint the exact location.
- stretch
- localized
- distant cutaneous site
Patients may describe it as __, __ and __ (eg, appendicitis, cholecystitis). It is a good idea to relate to __ to find possible pressing forces on viscera.
- deep, dull, and cramping
2. patient history
Neuropathic pain is caused by __ in either the peripheral or central region. It may be due to __ or its __ (diabetes, infection, cancer, drugs, radiation).
- injury to the nerves
- disease
- treatment
Neuropathic pain is often described as prolonged, severe, __, __ , or squeezing , and is often
associated with __. If severe, neuropathic pain may be accompanied by weakness.
- burning
- lancinating
- focal neurologic deficits
In neuropathic pain, there may be no __, but areas of __ (allodynia). It is also characterized by its relative __, making it the most challenging type of pain to treat.
- area of tenderness
- exquisite sensitivity to normally innocuous stimuli
- resistance to opioids
__ neuropathic pain results from abnormal nerve generation while __ neuropathic pain results from reorganization of central somatosensory processing.
- Peripheral
2. central
Referred pain is pain __. It may occur because signals from different part of body travel along the __ going to the spinal cord and the brain.
• i.e. Obstructed bile duct produces pain near right side of scapula
• i.e. Hip injury pain referred to the knee
- located away from its point of origin
2. same pathways
Ischaemic pain is caused by __ to tissue (poor/no perfusion to area), leading to tissue hypoxia and damage. This causes a release of inflammatory mediators and chemicals that stimulate nociceptors
• i.e. Angina Pain
loss of blood flow
Pain that feels aching, stabbing, throbbing, or pressure is likely to be __ pain, originating from __.
- Somatic (Nociceptive)
2. skin, muscle, bone
Gnawing, cramping, aching, or sharp pain is likely to be __ pain, originating from __.
- Visceral
2. Organs or viscera
Burning, tingling, shooting, or electric /shocking pain is likely to be __ pain, originating from __.
- Neuropathic
2. nerve damage
Pain evaluation of patients can be subjective via __ (even if tissue damage cannot be observed) or objective via autonomic signs associated with acute pain, (increase __) especially in unconscious patients.
- signs of distress
2. RR, HR, BP, diaphoresis
When taking pain history, the usage of __ can help elicit more details. History should be __ and we have to look out for __ (consider total concept).
- open-ended questions
- taken separately for each pain
- signs of psychological distress
The SOCRATES framework can help get a good pain history:
• S__: Where is it?
• O__: When did it start? How did it start?
• C__: How does it feel? (look for neuropathic pain)
• R__: Does it run anywhere?
• A__: A ny other symptoms?
• T__: How long have you had it?
• E__: What makes it worse/better?
• S__: How bad is it? (using 1-10 subjective scores)
- site
- Onset
- Character
- Radiation
- Associations
- Time course
- Exacerbating/relieving factors
- Severity
The goal of pain assessment is to: • \_\_ the pain • Identify pain syndrome (Acute/chronic/breakthrough, Cancer/Non cancer related) • Infer \_\_ (Nociceptive/Neuropathic) • Evaluate physical and psychosocial \_\_ • Assess degree and nature of \_\_ • Develop a therapeutic strategy
- Characterize and Quantify
- pathophysiology
- comorbidities
- disability
General tool for quantifying pain intensity is via the __. When assessing pain for children and elderly who do not verbalize well, the __ tool is preferable (ensure the score is patient-reported and not by healthcare professionals!!).
- Numerical rating scale
2. Wong-Baker Faces Rating Scale
For patients who cannot self-report pain (i.e. < 3 years old), the FLACC scale (f_, L_, A_, C_, C_) is recommended. Each factor is scored 0-2, and the sum is reported on a scale of 0-10.
- face, legs, activity, cry, consolability
The __ assessment tool is based on a 10cm line where patient can make a marking on the line to indicate where their pain is. It is mainly used in the research setting to attempt a more ‘objective’ measure of pain.
visual analog scale
The __ assessment tool allows patients to assess their pain using various adjectives i.e. annoying, dreadful, agonizing etc..
adjective rating scale
The __ pain questionnaire is often used to measure effectiveness of analgesics. It measures 3 dimensions of pain:
- Sensory (location, temporal pattern, quality)
- Affective (emotional response)
- Evaluative (perceived intensity)
McGill-Melzack
Pharmacotherapy options for pain management include:
- __ (opioids and non-opioids)
- __ blocks
- Adjuvant analgesics (neurophatic, musculoskeletal)
- Analgesics
2. Nerve
Alternative methods for pain management include:
- Electric stimulation (TENS/PENS)
- a__
- __ therapy
- c__
- Surgery
- Acupuncture
- Physical
- Chiropractics
The 3 key principles of pain management:
- Treat the __ where possible
- Ask what is the __ behind the pain
- Pharmacological Treatments via __
- underlying cause
- Pain Mechanism(s)
- WHO LADDER
WHO treatment guide for cancer recommends:
- __ ROA recommended
- Regular __ of analgesia
- __ regimen
- Treat according to __
- Constant __ (attention to detail)
- PO
- intervals
- Individualize
- patient’s perception
- monitoring
We should match analgesic choice to severity of pain and titrate to response.
• __ titration for severe pain.
• __ titration for moderate pain.
• __ titration for mild pain.
- Rapid
- Slower
- Even slower
20% of cancer pain requires multi dimensional approach:
- __ of pain syndrome, use of 2nd line agents and/or __ interventions.
- reassessment
2. non-pharmacological
Based on WHO pain ladder, a pain score of 1-3 (mild pain) should be treated using:
- __ if patient is not on analgesics (aspirin generally avoided due to __ effect)
- __ and __ if patient is already on analgesics (i.e. max dose)
- Paracetamol/NSAIDs
- irreversible anti-platelet
- Short-acting opioid and bowel regimen
Paracetamol is dosed 500-1000mg doses every 6 to 8 hourly; Max dose: __. It is the most commonly used non-opioid but we have to be cautious of overdose from using different __.
- 4g/day
2. combination products
Paracetamol has a low incidence of (1), high oral/rectal (2), multi-preparations available and is __(3)_____ with opioids. However, it lacks ___(4)______ and can cause __(5)____ with large doses (avoid > 3 grams/day for elderly).
- ADR
- bioavailability
- synergistic
- anti-inflammatory action
- hepatotoxicity
Paracetamol is metabolized in the __ and eliminated in the __. We should watch out for patients with compromised __ function.
- liver
- kidney
- liver and kidney
When choosing NSAIDs, there is no preference and any cost-effective NSAID __ by patient can be used. Alternatively, we may consider the PO equivalent of max tolerated __ dose.
- tolerated
2. ibuprofen
If two NSAIDs are tried in succession without efficacy, we should __.
use another approach to analgesia
COX‐2 selective NSAIDs are associated with lower incidence of __ side effects and do not inhibit __. However, they are more __ than traditional NSAIDs.
- GI
- platelet aggregation
- expensive
NSAIDs are extensively protein bound and excreted mainly in __. They can appear in __ and cross the __.
- urine
- milk
- placenta
NSAIDs can cause __ side effects and reversible platelet inhibition. They should be avoided if patients are on chemotherapy (may develop __). Coxibs would be preferable in this case.
- GI
2. thrombocytopenia
NSAIDs can cause:
• __ effects: edema, HTN, renal failure
• CNS: headache, dizziness, nervousness and visual disturbance
• Cardiovascular effects: edema, cerebrovascular accident, hypertension, MI
• __ (esp classical NSAIDs i.e. indomethacin & mefanamic acid, diclofenac)
• __ : hemolytic anemia, pancytopenia, thrombocytopenia
Other SE:
________ platelet inhibition, ____
- Renal
- Hypersensitivity reaction
- Hematological
- reversible
- GI SE