Question

You notice a young woman who is experiencing intense pain. When you ask the nurses about this patient, they tell you she is in end-stage cancer and has received all the pain medication she has been prescribed. They could not administer more medication without a doctor’s order.

1. How would you react to this patient?
2. What would you do to provide alternative comfort measures?
3. Would you be an advocate for this patient and attempt to have more medication prescribed?

Answer 1

1. YOU MIGHT REPEAT A POSITIVE STATEMENT ABOUT IGNORING THE PAIN OR SEEING PAIN IN A POSITIVE WAY. WE CAN ASSURE THE PATIENT THAT NON-PHARMACOLOGICAL METHODS CAN ALSO ALLIEVATE PAIN ,  AND MAKE HIM TRUST US.
2. ALTERNATIVE COMFORT MEASURES

• SELF HYPNOSIS-- IS WAY TO DIRECT YOUR ATTENTION TO SOMETHING OTHER THAN YOUR PAIN. FOR EXAMPLE, YOU MIGHT REPEAT A POSITIVE STATEMENT ABOUT IGNORING THE PAIN OR SEEING PAIN IN A POSITIVE WAY
• MUSIC-- MAY HELP INCREASE ENERGY LEVELS AND IMPROVE YOUR MOOD.IT MAY HELP TO REDUCE PAIN BY TRIGERRING YOUR BODY TO RELEASE ENDORPHINS.THESE BODY CHEMICALS THAT REDUCE PAIN.
• GUIDED IMAGERY-- TEACHES YOU TO IMAGINE A PICTURE INSEAD OF FOCUS ON PAIN.

3 YES, BECAUSE ALTHOUGH TREARMENT AT THIS STAGE OF ILLNESS IS LIKELY TO BE PALLIATIVE

RATHER THAN CURATIVE , PREVENTION AND APPOPRIATE MANAGEMENT OF PROBLEMS CAN

IMPROVE THE PATIENT'S QUALITY OF LIFE CONSIDERABILY. USE OF ANALGESIA AT SET

INTERVALS RATHER   THAN ON AN "AS NEEDED " BASIS USUALLY  BREAKS THE CYCLE OF

   TENSION AND ANXIETY ASSOSIATED WITH WAITING UNTIL PAIN BECOMES SO SEVERE THAT

   PAIN RELIEF IS IN ADEQUATE ONCE THE ANALGESIC IS GIVEN.