Non-Pharmacological Pain Management & Assessment

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Vocabulary flashcards summarizing key non-pharmacological therapies, assessment tools, and concepts discussed in the pain-management lecture.

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39 Terms

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Relaxation

Intentional deep-breathing and muscle-release exercises that lower anxiety, loosen tight muscles, distract from pain, and boost medication efficacy.

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Imagery

Mental creation of calming scenes (e.g., beach, ‘happy place’) to shift attention away from painful sensations.

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Distraction

Any activity (music, TV, reading, conversation, video games) that diverts sensory focus and diminishes pain perception.

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Biofeedback

Technique that uses monitoring devices to teach patients to control physiological responses (muscle tension, heart rate) linked to pain.

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Therapy Animals

Trained dogs or other animals that provide comfort, lower anxiety, and sometimes detect physiological changes related to pain or illness.

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Yoga

Mind-body practice combining postures, controlled breathing, and meditation to improve flexibility, circulation, and pain tolerance.

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Reiki

Energy-field therapy in which a practitioner’s hands channel ‘healing energy’ to rebalance and alleviate pain.

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Meditation

Focused awareness or mindfulness exercise that produces deep relaxation and alters pain perception.

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Aromatherapy

Use of soothing scents (e.g., lavender) via oils, candles, or incense to promote relaxation and comfort.

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Massage

Manual manipulation of soft tissues, often with lubricant, to relax stiff muscles, enhance circulation, and reduce pain.

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Heat Therapy

Application of warm moist or dry heat to relax muscles, improve blood flow, and lessen inflammation after the first 48 h.

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Cold Therapy (Ice)

Intermittent or continuous cooling for the first 24–48 h post-injury to numb pain and decrease swelling.

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Acupuncture

Insertion of fine needles at specific points to redirect pain signals and release endorphins.

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Acupressure

Finger or device pressure on acupuncture points to achieve pain relief without needles.

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Vibration Therapy

Use of devices (e.g., Theragun) that deliver rapid percussive vibrations to loosen tense muscles and ease discomfort.

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Exercise

Planned physical activity that strengthens muscles, improves circulation, and supports recovery after injury or surgery.

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Range of Motion (ROM)

Active or passive joint movements prescribed to prevent stiffness and maintain function following immobilization or surgery.

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TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation)

Portable device that sends mild electrical impulses through skin electrodes to block or modulate pain signals, often for neuropathic or musculoskeletal pain.

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Physical Therapy

Professional rehabilitation services (exercise, heat, TENS, education) aimed at restoring movement and reducing pain.

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Pain Assessment – W.U.T.S.U.P.

Framework covering Where, How it feels, Treatment tried, Severity, Usefulness of previous data, and Patient perception.

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Pain Goal

Patient-chosen comfort target (number or functional ability) guiding individualized pain-management plans.

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Fear of Narcotics

Common barrier involving worries about addiction, side-effects, or loss of control that must be addressed through education.

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Numeric Pain Scale (0-10)

Gold-standard self-report tool categorizing pain as mild (0-3), moderate (4-6), or severe (7-10).

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Faces Pain Scale

Series of facial expressions that help children or non-verbal adults indicate pain intensity.

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Dementia (PAINAD) Scale

Observational tool scoring breathing, vocalization, facial expression, body language, and consolability to assess pain in cognitively impaired patients.

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Neuropathic Pain

Pain arising from nerve injury; often described as burning, shooting, or tingling and treated with adjuvants like gabapentin.

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Patient-Controlled Analgesia (PCA)

Pump that lets patients self-administer preset opioid doses, maintaining steady relief while preventing overdose.

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IV-to-Oral Transition

Step-down approach converting fast-acting IV opioids to equivalent oral doses before discharge.

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Sickle Cell Crisis

Acute vaso-occlusive episode causing severe generalized pain that typically requires high-dose opioids and supportive care.

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Therapeutic Relationship

Trust-based nurse–patient partnership emphasizing listening, empathy, and shared decision-making in pain control.

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Advocacy

Nurse’s duty to represent patient preferences, remove barriers, and coordinate multidisciplinary pain care.

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Timing of Pain

Pattern information (onset, duration, frequency, triggers) used to differentiate constant, intermittent, or activity-related pain.

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Associated Symptoms

Additional findings (nausea, dizziness, swelling) that help identify pain etiology and required interventions.

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Severity Descriptors

Patient words such as sharp, dull, throbbing, pressure, popping, or burning that guide differential diagnosis.

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History Taking

Collection of medical, surgical, medication, allergy, substance-use, and lifestyle data that influences pain management choices.

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Barriers to Pain Management

Factors like cultural beliefs, age, cognition, communication limits, or staff bias that hinder adequate relief.

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Adjuvant Analgesics

Non-opioid drugs (e.g., anticonvulsants, antidepressants, muscle relaxants) added to enhance pain control.

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Patient Perception

Individual meaning and tolerance of pain that shapes response to interventions and satisfaction with care.

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Functional Pain Assessment

Evaluation of how pain affects mobility, sleep, mood, and activities of daily living to set realistic goals.