Incident pain
is an acute type that happens predictably when certain movements take place.
malignant pain vs nonmalignant pain
chronic pain that is derived from cancer or not related to cancer
Pain and the aging adult
Older adults may have additional fears about becoming dependent, undergoing invasive procedures, taking pain medications, and having a financial burden. The most common pain-producing conditions for aging adults include pathologies such as osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, peripheral vascular disease, cancer, peripheral neuropathies, angina, and chronic constipation.
Dementia does not impact the ability to feel pain, but it does impact the person's ability to effectively use self-report instruments.
gender differences pain
Gender differences are influenced by societal expectations, hormones, and genetic makeup
OPQRST
onset, provocation/palliation, quality/quantity, region/radiation, severity, timing
Initial pain assesment
Clinician asks patients eight questions concerning location, duration, quality, intensity, and aggravating/relieving factors. Furthermore, clinician adds questions about manner of expressing pain and effects of pain that impairs one’s quality of life.
Brief pain inventor
Clinician asks patient to rate pain within past 24 hours on graduated scales (0 to 10) with respect to its impact on areas such as mood, walking ability, and sleep.
Short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire
Clinician asks patient to rank list of descriptors in terms of their intensity and to give an overall intensity rating to his or her pain.
Pain rating scales
one-dimensional and are intended to reflect pain intensity. can indicate a baseline intensity, track changes, and give some degree of evaluation to a treatment modality. There are different subtypes that use numbers, verbal description, visual analog, or descriptor scale.
Selection is based on patient understanding and age of development.
Numeric rating scales
patient to choose a number that rates level of pain, with 0 being no pain and highest anchor 10 indicating worst pain.
verbal descriptor scales
have the patient use words to describe pain
visual analog scales
have the patient mark the intensity of the pain on a horizontal line from “no pain” to “worst pain.
descriptor scales
in which patients are asked to indicate their pain by using selected pain term words
Pain children and toddlers
preverbal and incapable of self-report, pain assessment is dependent on behavioral and physiologic cues.
It is important to underscore understanding that infants do feel pain.
Children 2 years of age can report pain and point to its location but cannot rate pain intensity.
It is helpful to ask parent or caregiver what words the child uses to report pain.
joints
Note size, contour, and circumference of joint.
Check active or passive range of motion.
Joint motion normally causes no tenderness, pain, or crepitation.
muscle and skin
Inspect skin and tissues for color, swelling, and any masses or deformity.
abdomen
Observe for contour and symmetry.
Palpate for muscle guarding and organ size.
Note any areas of referred pain.
acute pain behaviors
Involve autonomic responses
Protective purpose
Individuals experiencing moderate to intense levels of pain may exhibit the following behaviors:
Guarding, grimacing
Vocalizations such as moaning, agitation, restlessness, stillness
Diaphoresis,
Change in vital signs
chronic pain behaviors
Persistent (Chronic) pain behaviors
Often live with experience for months and years
Adaptation occurs over time.
Clinicians cannot look for or anticipate the same acute pain behaviors to exist in order to confirm a pain diagnosis.
Shows more variability than acute pain behaviors
Higher risk for under detection
Associated behaviors:
Bracing, rubbing
Diminished activity
Sighing
Change in appetite
Cries Score
Measures postoperative pain in preterm and term neonates
Examines physiologic and behavioral indicators on 3 point scale
FLACC
Nonverbal tool used for infants and young children up to age 3
Assesses 5 behaviors of pain (facial expression, leg movement, activity level, cry, and consolability)
PAINAD
Evaluates 5 common behaviors
Breathing, vocalization, facial expression, body language, and consolability
Quantified behaviors in category 0 to 2
Total score metric 0 to 10
Score of 4 or more requires treatment.