Chronic Pain Diagnosis and Management

Student’s Name:

Institution Affiliation:

Chronic pain refers to persistent pain that lasts longer for months and associated with psychological and psychosocial effects (Samarkandi, 2018). Chronic pain diagnosis and management use the best evidence, which involves proper evaluation and description of the intensity of pain and quality management of pain. Pain management is challenging among patients with co-occurring substance use disorder. They become drug tolerance, making it hard for healthcare professionals to treat and address these patients’ care needs (Quinlan & Cox, 2017). Diagnosis and pain management in such patients require evidence-based and comprehensive approaches to address the associated pain, patient addiction, and any arising psychiatric conditions (Ditre et al., 2019). The diagnosis involves identifying the patient history of drug use to determine where the pain comes from and ascertain, whether it is related to drug use. Conducting various tests such as X-ray, CT scans, MRI, and blood is essential to identify the pain source.

Pain in a patient with drug use disorder arises due to an abrupt stop in usage or taking a rapid drug or overdose, which produces pain making pain management in addicted patients challenging. Hence, professionals adopt chronic pain management, which is multimodal, aiming to reduce and control the pain to ensure a patient’s ability to function (Quinlan & Cox, 2017). The management includes approaches such as pharmacological, surgical, physical and, interventional strategies to control the pain and improve a person ability and state of mind for quick recovery and functionality. Pharmacological and surgical treatment and management involve using pain relievers prescribed by qualified professionals depending on the pain’s type and intensity. Additionally, according to Ditre et al. (2019), pain management is achieved through physical therapy, which involves exercises to enhance flexibility and strengthen body muscles to reduce and keep the pain from returning. Other management procedures include yoga and body massage, which are relaxation techniques that help patients reduce the intake of drugs, which help reduce pain.

References

Ditre, J. W., Zale, E. L., & LaRowe, L. R. (2019). A reciprocal model of pain and substance use: transdiagnostic considerations, clinical implications, and future directions. Annual review of clinical psychology, 15, 503-528. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-050718-095440

https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/abs/10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-050718-095440

Quinlan, J., & Cox, F. (2017). Acute pain management in patients with drug dependence syndrome. Pain reports, 2(4). DOI: 10.1097/PR9.0000000000000611

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5741366/

Samarkandi, O. A. (2018). Knowledge and attitudes of nurses toward pain management. Saudi journal of anaesthesia, 12(2), 220. DOI: 10.4103/sja.SJA_587_17 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5875209/