Wk. 14 - Pain Management Flashcards

What is the IASP 2020 definition of pain?

An unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage.

According to Margo McCaffery, how is pain defined?

"Pain is whatever the experiencing person says it is, existing whenever and wherever the person says it does."

Name the four main classifications of pain by pathology.

Nociceptive, neuropathic, nociplastic, and mixed category pain.

What is nociceptive pain caused by?

Damage to body tissue.

How is neuropathic pain described?

Numbing, shooting, stabbing, or electrical shock-like pain.

What is nociplastic pain associated with?

Abnormal processing of pain signals without clear tissue or nerve injury.

What is acute pain?

Pain that happens suddenly, lasts less than 3 months, and resolves with healing.

How is chronic pain characterized?

Pain lasting longer than 3 months, often affecting daily life and causing emotional distress.

What part of the brain determines the location and intensity of pain?

The somatosensory cortex.

Which brain structure gives the emotional reaction to pain?

The limbic forebrain.

What is modulation in pain physiology?

Adjustment of pain intensity by descending inhibitory pathways.

Which chemicals inhibit pain transmission during modulation?

Serotonin, norepinephrine, GABA, and endogenous opioids.

What is multimodal pain management?

Combining different strategies to achieve synergistic pain relief with fewer side effects.

Name three non-pharmacologic pain therapies.

Cryotherapy, music therapy, cognitive therapies.

What does the World Health Organization's Analgesic Ladder guide?

Stepwise pain management, originally for cancer pain.

Does acetaminophen have anti-inflammatory properties?

No, it only has antipyretic and analgesic effects.

What is the antidote for acetaminophen overdose?

N-acetylcysteine (Acetadote or Mucomyst).

What is the maximum daily dose of acetaminophen for healthy adults?

4000 mg/day.

What are three adverse effects of NSAIDs like ibuprofen?

GI bleeding, kidney injury, and increased risk of MI/stroke.

What is the only selective COX-2 NSAID available in the U.S.?

Celecoxib (Celebrex).

What is the main mechanism of action for opioids?

Binding to and stimulating opioid receptors.

What is equianalgesic dosing?

Determining equivalent pain relief doses between different opioids.

Which opioid antagonist reverses opioid overdose?

Naloxone

List three common side effects of therapeutic opioid doses.

Constipation, sedation, nausea/vomiting.

What preventive program should start when opioids are prescribed orally?

A bowel regimen to prevent opioid-induced constipation.

Name two examples of adjuvant medications for pain.

Gabapentinoids and antidepressants

What is a major side effect of gabapentinoids?

Sedation and dizziness.

What is a continuous peripheral nerve block (CPNB)?

Continuous infusion of local anesthetic near a nerve to control surgical site pain.

What is spinal anesthesia?

Injection of anesthetic into the subarachnoid space causing sensory and motor blockade.

What life-threatening complication must nurses monitor for after epidural analgesia?

Respiratory depression and epidural hematoma.