chapter 20 study guide

Opioid Side Effects

Sedation, nausea, constipation, and respiratory depression.

PCA

Patient-Controlled analgesia; an intervention that allows clients to self-administer opioid pain medication.

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)

A medically prescribed pain management technique that delivers bursts of electricity to the skin and underlying nerves.

Chronic Pain

Discomfort that lasts longer than 6 months; the longer the pain exists, the greater its effects on the sufferer.

Endogenous Opioids

Natural painkillers such as endorphins, dynorphins, and enkephalins that block pain signals and modulate pain perception.

Pain Threshold

The point at which sufficient pain-transmitting stimuli reach the brain, meaning the individual can feel pain.

Pain Tolerance

The amount of pain an individual can endure.

Pain Perception

Occurs when the pain threshold is reached, and the individual is consciously aware of pain.

Gate Control Theory

The theory that pain stimuli travel through slow fibers and that the brain does not perceive pain when preoccupied with other sensory inputs.

C-fibers

Fibers that carry impulses at a rate of 0.5 to 2 m/sec.

A-delta fibers

Fibers that carry impulses at a rate of 5-30 m/sec.

Types of Pain

Includes acute, chronic, neuropathic, visceral, cutaneous, somatic, and referred pain.

Epidural Anesthesia

A method of relieving pain by instilling an opioid or local anesthetic through a catheter into the subarachnoid or epidural space of the spinal cord.

Adjuvant Drugs

Analgesic drugs that combine with a wide range of adjuvant drugs to improve pain control.

Intractable Pain

Pain unresponsive to other methods of pain management.

Complementary and Alternative Medical Interventions

Methods including acupuncture, acupressure, heat and cold therapies, and hypnosis used to manage pain.

Caregiver Role Strain

Exhaustion resulting from the high demands of time and energy in caregiving, especially when balancing responsibilities.

Brief Pain Assessment Components

Onset, quality, intensity, location, and duration of pain.

Nursing Guidelines for Managing Pain

Includes not doubting the client's pain, timely administration of pain relief, and monitoring for drug side effects.