Last Updated on June 10, 2022 by Nurse Vicky
Who Should I Call For Help? 5 Things to know
When you’re a patient in pain, you probably wonder: Who should I call for help?
There are many reasons why, but NSAID resistance, terminal cancer, hip/knee OA, and CLBP are just a few of them. Fortunately, there’s hope.
In this article, we’ll explore some of the most important questions you need to ask yourself when it comes to pain management.
This article also discusses the performance status score that physicians use to evaluate pa patients.
There are many options for treating NSAID-resistant patients.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are commonly used in the management of mild-to-moderate pain.
The most common nonsteroidal analgesics are acetaminophen and codeine.
Opioids, which inhibit COX-2 enzymes, are usually prescribed for acute or traumatic pain.
Anti-depressants and anti-epileptic drugs are used to treat chronic pain.
NSAID-resistant patients may require alternative methods of pain management.
NSAIDs should be used with caution in patients with chronic kidney disease or risk factors for kidney disease.
Additionally, prolonged use of NSAIDs can lead to adverse effects.
For instance, chronic use of NSAIDs may contribute to poorer outcomes after hip replacement surgery.
This is because chronic NSAID use inhibits the healing process of soft tissues and accelerates the arthritic process.
Patients with terminal cancer
P
ain management in patients with terminal cancer is a challenge, especially during the last stages of the disease.
As a caregiver, you are responsible for monitoring the pain level of your loved one.
During the final stages of a patient’s illness, pain levels may rise significantly.
Furthermore, the patient may not volunteer their pain level, and they may need higher doses of medications at certain times.
Non-pharmacological interventions are an important part of pain management in this situation.
While some patients with terminal cancer experience multiple types of pain, others experience only mild discomfort.
The treatments used for pain relief range from non-opioids, like paracetamol and ibuprofen, to opioids, like morphine.
Antispasmodics and corticosteroids are also used to alleviate pain.
The pain levels may be managed with the help of a trained physician or a pharmacist.
Patients with hip/knee OA
conservative treatment of hip/knee OA is multimodal. However, the evidence supporting a comprehensive rehabilitation approach is still limited.
Further, single treatments should be evaluated in actual OA patients.
This is best accomplished in pragmatic randomized controlled trials.
This article will review the evidence supporting the use of a multidimensional approach in the treatment of hip and knee OA.
Until then, conservative treatment remains the gold standard.
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic condition, which means that the symptoms get worse or improve over time.
Treatment for OA includes modifying contributing factors, such as increased body weight or misalignment of the joints.
While treatments do not slow the progression of OA, they can help a patient manage pain and remain active.
Various treatments are available, ranging from nonpharmacologic treatments to drug therapy and surgery.
Patients with CLBP
Pharmacists continue to play a critical role in the management of CLBP.
Pharmacists are accessible and frequently interact with patients in their community.
Proper patient education and information can improve the effectiveness of pain management and reduce the societal burden of CLBP.
With an increase in awareness of current guidelines and patient education, pharmacists can provide patients with effective management options.
This article discusses some key aspects of patient education.
The study’s design and findings are based on self-report measures of pain severity (BPI-SF), which were developed by assessing patients’ pain at three different levels:
pain at its worst in the previous 24 h, average pain, and current pain.
A higher score reflects the severity of LBP.
Furthermore, the study’s methods are based on guidelines from the Research Task Force of the NIH Pain Consortium.
Patients with OA with NSAID resistance
In patients with OA who fail to respond to NSAIDs for pain management, other options can be considered.
Antidepressants may help reduce the frequency and intensity of OA pain, in part due to their effects on brain chemicals.
Cymbalta, a type of antidepressant approved for chronic musculoskeletal pain, is one example of an antidepressant used for this purpose.
However, this medication is associated with a variety of side effects, including sleepiness, dry mouth, and nausea NSAIDs have several different forms.
Naproxen sodium is an over-the-counter medicine, but higher doses are available by prescription.
Diclofenac is an NSAID that comes in both oral and topical forms.
While NSAIDs are widely used for pain management in patients with OA, they do have some risks.
Patients with kidney disease and those allergic to aspirin should avoid taking them unless they have a medical condition that prevents them from using them.
