Unit 5

The damage to nerve cells, peripheral or CNS pain. Can be phantom limb pain

• Superficial pain, easily localized, just below the skin between high concentration of nerve endings that produce a well-defined pain.
• Abrupt onset and a burning quality depending on type of nerve fiber involved

Deep pain that originates from ligaments, tendons, bones, blood vessels, and nerves.  Poorly localized, accompanied by inflammation, such as a sprained ankle

Originates from viscera or organs, such as appendicitis, kidney, liver pain.  Difficult to localize more aching and longer duration than somatic pain.  May cause referred pain

mental or emotional problems that can cause, increase or prolong pain.  Diagnosed when other causes of pain are ruled out

Threshold is where they can start to feel the pain and tolerance is how much pain they can take

Age, gender, meaning of pain, anxiety, past experiences with pain, expectation and placebo effect

• Temporarily block nerve impulses between peripheral structures and higher centers.  Causes loss of feeling and sensation, no LOC, used in minor surgery, reversible, works in minutes to hours
• Lidocaine-topical and intravascular block works within 5-10 minutes.
• Bupivacaine-slow onset, lasts 4-8 hours 4X more potent than lidocaine, blocks sensory nerves as opposed to motor nerves

Reversible or irreversible interruption of nerve pathways, blocks conductivity, given for pain relief

Sprays, pastes that may reduce pain, EMLA is a commonly used cream with lidocaine and prilocaine applied before venipuncture

Non-opioid analgesics (pain medications) that have a ceiling effect but do not cause physical dependence or tolerance, can have anti-inflammatory effects

• Aspirin-most effective non-opioid analgesic, can cause GI upset and anti-clotting effect
• Salicylate salts-similar to aspirin but without the GI upset.  Examples include: Trilisate (trisalicylate) & Dolobid (diflunisal)
• Acetaminophen-no GI effects, no anti-inflammatory effects, drug of choice for viral infections, metabolized in liver, do not exceed daily dose of 4000 mg
• NSAIDS-non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that decrease inflammation and block prostaglandin synthesis, helpful for cancer or post-op patients, Ibuprofen (motrin) and ketorolac (Toradol), can cause GI upset and bleeding
• COX-2 inhibitors such as celecoxib (Celebrex)

• 2nd Opioids to treat mild to moderate pain
• 3rd Opioids t treat moderate to sever pain
• Opiod agonists bring about pain relief by producing the maximum degree of receptor binding with no ceiling effect
• Opioid Antagonist-reverse the side effects and analgesia of opioids, produces no pain relief such as naloxone (Narcan)
• Opioid Agonist-Antagonist-engage one receptor type while inhibiting receptor bidning of another

• #1 Constipation
• Nausea Vomiting
• Respiratory depression
• Circulatory depression
• Cutaneous effects-itching, sweating, flushing
• Urinary retention

• Meds developed for other problems that may have pain-reducing properties
• Tricyclic antidepressants-neuropathic pain, amitriptyline (Elavil)
• Anti-Anxiety-muscle relaxant-spasm associated with pain, diazepam (Valium)
• Anticonvulsants-neuropathic pain, phenytoin (Dilantin), gabapentin (Neurontin), pregabalin (Lyrica)
• Corticosteroids-reduces edema and the inflammation in the periphery, reducing compression caused by swelling and the availability of chemical medicators of nociception, predinsone, dexamethasone (Decadron), methylprednisolone (Solu-Medrol)

• Relative potency-ratio of doses of 2 analgesics required to produce the same effect, which one is stronger
• Duration of action-how long it lasts
• Oral potency v. SQ, IV routes-opioids are absorbed from the intestine and pass through the liver and into the systemic circulation then differ in the degree to which they are active
• Ceiling effect-occurs when a medication has a max effective dose, increasing the dose cannot increase pain relief but may increase side effects

• Tolerance is a physiologic phenomenon and ocurs when larger doses of medications are needed to provide the same amount of pain relief as the previous smaller dose, opiate receptors become less sensitive
• Dependence occurs when meds are taken over a long period of time, physical manifestations asociated with sudden termination of the med and symptoms may include anxiety, irritabililty, chills/hot flashes, N/V, etc.

• morphine sulfate-IV/PO
• hydromorphone HCL (Dilaudid)-IV/PO
• oxycodone (OxyContin)-PO
• oxycodone with acetaminophen (Percocet)-PO
• oxycodone with aspirin (Percodan)-PO
• hydrocodone with acetaminophen (Vicodan)-PO
• codeine-PO
• fentanyl (Duragesic/Sublimaze)-IV, Transdermal, transmucosal

• How-facial expressions, body movements, sleep, mood, asking OPQRSTI
• What-medication allergies, time of last dose and response, other meds, weight, pain experience, cardiac, respiratory, renal hepatic, CNS status

PCA, oral, intramuscular, intravenous, rectal, transdermal, transmucosal, continuous subcutaneous pump, intraspinal/epidural pump

deep breathing, progressive relaxation, rhythmic breathing, music, guided imagery, biofeedback, distraction, therapeutic touch, meditation, hypnosis, humor, magnets

Pain scale using a scoring system looking at Face, legs, activity, cry, consolability

Ages 7+

• Infants-crying
• Toddlers/Preschoolers-cry, expressions, start to anticipate pain
• School-age-vocal protest, stalling, muscle rigidity
• Adolescent-less vocal protest, increased muscle tension