Pain therapy in nursing care

Pain is part of everyday life for many people - especially as they get older. But it doesn't have to be. Modern pain therapy offers numerous approaches to alleviate acute and chronic pain and significantly improve quality of life. This plays a particularly important role in care, as people in need of care are often unable to express their symptoms clearly. This is where nursing staff play a crucial role in pain management.

 

 

Chronic pain is more than just physical discomfort. It can lead to depression, anxiety and social isolation. Those affected often withdraw and lose their enjoyment of life. But there is hope: targeted pain therapy can significantly improve the quality of life and give those affected more joy in life again.

It is important that caregivers, relatives and those affected work together to find the best possible therapy. In this article, we look at how pain therapy works in care, what methods are available and how carers can actively contribute to pain relief and well-being.

 

Mrs. Meier's Story: A Path to Pain Relief

 

 

Mrs. Meier, 78 years old, suffered from chronic back pain for years. She used to be active, loved going for walks in the park and spending time with her grandchildren. But the pain became so unbearable that she became increasingly withdrawn and hardly ever left her bed. Her carer Anna noticed Mrs. Meier's suffering and her increasing withdrawal. "Why don't you talk about your pain?" Anna asked one day. Like many older people, however, Mrs. Meier had learned to endure her pain and not to make an issue of it.

Anna took the initiative and encouraged Ms. Meier to talk about her pain. Together with the doctor treating her, they drew up a pain management plan that included both medication and non-medication measures. Within a few weeks, Mrs. Meier was able to significantly improve her quality of life. She began to take part in activities again and even kept a "wellbeing diary" in which she documented the pain-free moments.

 

Causes of pain: diverse and often elusive

Pain can have a variety of causes: A fall, osteoarthritis, cancer or even stress can lead to severe discomfort. Older people in particular often experience a combination of different types of pain. Even if the original injury has healed, the so-called "pain memory" can cause pain to persist.

It is crucial for caregivers to consider both the physical and psychological aspects of pain. Many patients are unable or unwilling to communicate their pain directly. Non-verbal signs such as a distorted face, protective postures or social withdrawal - as with Mrs. Meier - are important indicators that someone is suffering from pain.

 

Chronic Pain

 

 

"Maybe you know the feeling, your pain has become a constant companion. It's like a shadow that follows you everywhere. Chronic pain is more than just a physical problem. It can affect your mood, put a strain on your relationships and significantly reduce your quality of life. But don't be discouraged! There are many ways to deal with chronic pain. Together with your doctor, you can develop an individual treatment plan that is tailored to your needs. It's not just about relieving the pain, but also about giving you back more quality of life. You are not alone. There are numerous support groups and therapies that can help you live better with your chronic pain."

 

Children and Adolescents

 

 

Children and adolescents often experience pain differently than adults. They may not yet be able to describe their pain as well or may be afraid of being a burden. It is therefore important to listen to them carefully and take their fears seriously. There are special pain therapy programs for children and adolescents that are designed to be playful and age-appropriate. They learn how to deal with their pain and strengthen their self-efficacy. Parents or caregivers can help by giving their child reassurance, talking openly about the pain and supporting them in seeking appropriate help.

 

Pain and Psyche

 

 

Body and mind are closely connected. This also applies to pain and mental illness. Depression, anxiety disorders and stress can increase sensitivity to pain, while conversely chronic pain can also trigger psychological problems. It's a vicious circle that you can break. Therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy can help you to change your thoughts and behaviors and thus alleviate both your pain and your psychological discomfort. You are not solely responsible for your pain. It is important to seek professional help to break this vicious cycle.

 

Pain and Age

 

 

Unfortunately, pain often increases with age. This can have various causes, such as osteoarthritis, back pain or nerve pain. Older people often have special needs when it comes to pain management. It is important to consider the psychosocial aspects as well as the physical complaints. Age-appropriate pain therapy should be individually tailored and include social and psychological aspects in addition to medical treatment. Your nurse or doctor can help you develop a treatment plan that suits you.

 

Mrs. Meier and the challenge of dementia

 

 

Suppose Ms. Meier develops a Dementia. Their ability to express pain verbally decreases. While she was initially able to talk about her back pain, she now finds it increasingly difficult to articulate her complaints.

 

The special challenges of dementia:

• Changed pain behavior: People with dementia often show pain in other ways. They may become agitated, react aggressively, withdraw or change their daily routine.
• Difficult communication: The limited ability to communicate makes it difficult to determine the exact cause and intensity of the pain.
• Forgetfulness: People affected quickly forget that they are in pain or which medication they should take.
• Changes in sleep-wake rhythm: Sleep disturbances can increase pain and decrease pain tolerance.

• Physical changes: Age-related diseases such as osteoarthritis can increase the sensation of pain.

   

How can nurse Anna help?

• Mindful observation: Anna needs to be especially attentive to changes in Ms. Meier's behavior. Changes such as a distorted face, restlessness or loss of appetite can be signs of pain.
• Pain diary: Even if Mrs. Meier can no longer provide all the information herself, Anna can keep a pain diary to record her observations.
• Non-verbal communication: Anna can try to communicate through touch, facial expressions and gestures and give Mrs. Meier a feeling of safety and security.
• Collaboration with the doctor: Regular consultations with the doctor are important in order to adjust the pain therapy and identify side effects.
• Individual adjustment of therapy: The therapy must be individually adapted to Mrs. Meier's needs and abilities. Simple measures such as heat packs or massages can help.

• Care staff training: All staff should be trained to prevent pain in Dementia patients to recognize and treat dementia patients.

   

Pain Therapy in Nursing: A Holistic Approach

 

A pain diary is like a personal weather report for pain. Ms. Meier documented exactly when her pain was at its worst and what triggered it. Together with Anna, she recognized patterns and took targeted measures. The diary not only helped with pain control, but also strengthened Mrs. Meier's self-efficacy.

 

Medication measures in pain therapy

 

 

Modern pain therapy is based on the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO). This recommends a step-by-step therapy:

1. Non-opioid analgesics such as aspirin or paracetamol help with mild to moderate pain.
2. Low-acting opioid analgesics like Tramadol are used for more severe pain.
3. Powerful opioid analgesics such as morphine are prescribed for very severe pain when other drugs are not sufficient.

It is crucial that pain medication is taken regularly to avoid spikes in pain. Nurses play a central role in monitoring and adjusting pain therapy.

 

Non-medication measures: Gentle pain relief

 

 

In addition to medication, there are many non-drug methods:

• Physical measures: Heat and cold applications, hot compresses or ice wraps help to relieve pain. TENS therapy (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) works through electrical stimuli.
• Exercise and mobilization:Regular exercise strengthens the muscles. In Ms. Meier's case, a combination of light exercises and massages led to an improvement.

• Artistic Therapies: Painting, playing music and mindfulness exercises distract from pain and promote well-being.

   

Pain diary and well-being diary: Understanding pain

A pain diary helps to document the progression of the pain. Ms. Meier also kept a well-being diary to record positive experiences. This method helped her to focus on the beautiful moments of everyday life.

 

Apps to support pain therapy

Apps like Pain Tracker help to document pain patterns. Calm offers guided meditations to reduce stress, and Medisafe reminds people to take their medication. These tools support the everyday life of pain patients.

 

The role of nurses in detail

 

 

• Pain assessment: Nurses are the first point of contact when it comes to pain. They use pain scales and observe non-verbal cues.
• Individual Pain plans: Nurses work with physicians to create customized pain plans and document the effects of medications.
• Patient education:Nurses educate patients about pain mechanisms and offer support.

• Coordinating role: They work closely with physicians and other professionals to provide holistic pain relief.

   

Possible challenges

• Underdosing on painkillers: Fearing side effects, many patients are given too few painkillers. Nurses explain the risks and benefits.
• Chronic pain: Caregivers support patients in the long term to improve their quality of life.
• Multimorbidity: Caregivers consider interactions between different medications.

• Psychosocial Facts: Caregivers work with psychologists and social workers to address psychosocial issues.

   

 

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Alternative healing methods

 

Imagine that your pain is as individual as your fingerprint. Individualized pain management that integrates both drug and non-drug measures is the key to a better quality of life.

Your nurse is not just there to administer medication. She is your detective, your motivator and your companion on the way to less pain and more enjoyment of life.

 

• Acupuncture: A traditional Chinese healing method in which fine needles are inserted into specific points on the body to relieve pain.
• Acute Pain:Short-term pain with a clearly identifiable cause.
• Analgetics: analgesics, which are used to relieve pain.
• Chronic Pain: Long-lasting pain that persists for a period of more than three months.
• Homeopathy:An alternative healing method based on the principle that like cures like and activates the body's self-healing powers.
• Multimodal Pain therapy: A combination of different therapeutic approaches, such as drug and non-drug measures, for the treatment of pain.
• Neuropathic pain: Pain caused by damage to or dysfunction of the nervous system, e.g. burning or tingling.For example, burning or tingling.
• Nociception:The physiological perception of noxious stimuli by the nervous system.
• Nociceptive pain: Pain caused by direct damage to tissue or organs, such as injuries or inflammation.
• Non-opioid analgesics: Painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen, which are used for mild to moderate pain.
• Opioids: Strong painkillers that act on opiate receptors in the brain and are used for severe pain.
• Pain threshold: The intensity at which a stimulus is perceived as painful.
• Pain tolerance: The individual ability to endure pain before it is perceived as unbearable.
• TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation): A method of pain treatment in which electrical impulses are conducted through the skin to relieve pain.
• Trigger points:Painful, hardened points in tense muscles that often react painfully to pressure.
• Visceral pain: Pain that originates in the internal organs and is often difficult to localize.