Lecture: Pain Management Medications (Part 1)

Introduction

Instructor: Professor Hoffman
Topic: Pain Management Medications
Format: Three-part video series
Today's Focus: Introductory/background information
Objectives:
1. Discuss anatomy and physiology (A&P) of pain
2. Compare and contrast acute and chronic pain
3. Review the use of pain assessment tools
Future Videos: Specific classifications of medications

Pain receptors located on nerve endings
Receptors activate upon noxious stimuli (e.g., physical, chemical)
Specialized nerve endings called nociceptors
Pain influenced by injury and surrounding chemical mediators
Prostaglandins:
- Released during inflammatory process
- Lower pain threshold, increasing pain sensation
Pain pathway:
1. Site of injury
2. Peripheral nerves
3. Spinal cord
4. Brain
Importance of pain as a protective mechanism
Pain can be disabling; medications help manage daily activities

Specific receptor sites: opioid receptors (mu receptors)
Narcotic drugs (opioids) block pain signals at these receptors
Body's natural production of opioid-like chemicals (endorphins)
- Endorphins block mu receptors, decrease pain awareness
- Phenomenon like runner's high or crisis situations

Acute Pain:
- Sudden onset, short-lived (usually <3 months)
- Known cause
Chronic Pain:
- Lasts >6 months
- Often related to disease/condition, injury, treatment, or inflammation
- May be harder to diagnose

Importance of assessing pain in nursing process
Tools: Wong-Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale
- Useful for non-verbal, children, language barriers
- 0-10 scale based on facial expressions
Detailed assessment using mnemonics (e.g., OLDCARTS)
- Onset, Location, Duration, Characteristics, Aggravating factors, Relieving factors, Timing, Severity

Gathering pain information (subjective from patient)
Determining appropriate medication/class based on pain severity
- 0-1: No intervention needed
- 3-5: Non-opioids or non-pharmacological responses
- 4-7: Light opioids plus non-opioids
- 7+: Opioids or similar drugs