Question

You are caring for a patient that has a high pain tolerance due to chronic pain and does not look like they are in pain. What would you do if they asked for more pain medication?

Answer 1

Pain tolerance, is the maximum amount, or level, of pain a person can tolerate or bear.

On the other hand Pain threshold is the minimum intensity at which a person begins to perceive, or sense, a stimulus as being painful.

Chronic pain can cause hypersensitization and it can influence a person’s sensitivity and perception of pain.

Furthermore it is reported by the pain researchers that the regular exposure to painful stimuli can increase one’s pain tolerance.

Having a high pain tolerance is not necessarily a good sign always.

It is reported in more severe cases, treatments like spinal stimulation can be used to trick the brain into feeling a tingling sensation rather than the pain, so patients do not have to reply on medication for pain relief.

This is the serious problem and in this condition the health specialists face major challenges if they asked for more pain medication.

Use of oral analgesics by people in chronic pain is common, but if patients get tolerance against these then opiate analgesics are the options but there are chances of opioid addiction in chronic pain patients.

Hence there is need of proper counseling in this case. As the patients who have good relationships with their doctors tend to be more satisfied with their care.

There are several ways a doctor can promote a good doctor-patient relationship:

·         Maintain an optimistic & positive attitude during the consultation.

·         Offer adequate information to patient about their treatment options & the pros and cons

·         Empathise with the patient & take their grievance seriously.

·         Train your patient about chronic pain & its treatment, & address any impractical expectations they may have formed.

At the last I want to conclude that the management of chronic pain is a complex process hence it is important for the patient as well as other health professional to cooperate each other.