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PAIN CONTROL. Edward Warren, MD, CAQG Chair Geriatrics VCOM, Carolinas Campus. Learning Objectives:. By the end of the session, participants will be able to: Discuss the generation and perception of pain and use this understanding clinically. Assess patients effectively for pain.
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PAIN CONTROL Edward Warren, MD, CAQG Chair Geriatrics VCOM, Carolinas Campus
Learning Objectives: By the end of the session, participants will be able to: • Discuss the generation and perception of pain and use this understanding clinically. • Assess patients effectively for pain. • Overcome barriers to pain control in patients and staff. • Use non-pharmacologic strategies to treat pain. • Use opioid pain medications safely and effectively. • Use adjuvant medications to treat pain. • Avoid and manage side effects. • Manage opioid addiction, tolerance, dependence, and abuse.
What is Pain? Pain is “ whatever the experiencing person says it is and (it) exists whenever he says it does.” -- M. McCaffery
TOTAL PAIN A concept introduced by Dame Cicely Saunders, founder of hospice • Physical • Psychological • Emotional • Social • Spiritual
Pain Terms • Allodynia – pain from stimuli that are not usually painful • Hyperalgesia – increased sensitivity to normally painful stimuli
Pain Results in: • Decreased mobility • Sleep disturbance • Agitation • Behavioral problems • Depression
Pain as the Fifth Vital Sign • Temperature • Pulse • Respirations • Blood Pressure • Ask about pain !
Neuropathic pain • Pain may exceed observable injury • Described as burning, tingling, shooting, stabbing, electrical • Management • opioids • adjuvant / coanalgesics often required
Neurotransmitters Impacting Pain 5HT = serotonin NE = norepinephrine NO = nitrous oxide
Opioid Action on Pain at the μReceptor of the Nucleus Acumbens
SNRI Action on Pain at the Locus Coerulius via NE • SNRI’s are serotonin and NE reuptake inhibitors. • The Locus Coerulius is on the ventral brainstem and is the origin of most NE neurons.
SNRI Action on Pain at the Median Raphe via Serotonin • SNRI’s are serotonin/NE reuptake inhibitors. • The Median Raphe, on the ventral brainstem,is the origin of serotonin neurons.
a2d Ligands: pregabalin & gabapentin a2d Ligands bind to voltage sensitive calcium channels at the dorsal horn (and centrally) to decrease excitatory transmission.
Assessment of Pain P - Palliative and Pejorative Factors Q - Quality of Pain (more than one type?) R - Region and Radiation S - Severity of the Pain (scale & effect on activities) T - Timing and Type of Onset (continuous, throbbing, lancinating, intermittent, crescendo, decrescendo, etc.)
Pain Rating Scales • Generally on a scale of 1 to 10 • 1 is none • 10 is the worst pain imaginable • May be done verbally or visually • Commonly with a series of faces with increasingly severe grimaces.
Patient Barriers(beliefs that prevent good pain control) • Pain is unavoidable • Pain is punishment • Asking for pain medication is too demanding (not being a good patient) • Asking for pain medication is a sign of weakness • Fear of addiction
Patient Barriers(beliefs that prevent good pain control) • Fear of side effects • Pain isn’t harmful • Complaining will lead to more tests • Fear of cost of medication • Fear of distracting physician from other concerns • Fear of Tolerance
Patient Barriers(beliefs that prevent good pain control) • “Too many mg’s” • “Too many pills”
Physician Barriers to Effective Pain Rx • Elderly have less sensation of pain. • Cognitively impaired don’t feel pain. • A sleeping patient isn’t experiencing pain. • Complaining more is a natural part of aging. • Those that ask for meds are drug seekers. • They “can tell” if a patient “really” has pain. • Fear of regulations • Fear of side effects
Physician Barriers to Effective Pain Rx • Fear that opioids will hasten death • Fear of contributing to addiction • Fear of causing more tolerance • Fear of being “the one” to cause death • Lack of assessment • Influence of the patient’s family • Inadequate knowledge base
Non Pharmacologic RxPhysical Measures • OMT • Occupational therapy • Heat and cold • Massage • Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) • Therapeutic Touch • Acupressure/Acupuncture • Music: Singing, humming, tapping • Dance
Non Pharmacologic RxPhysical Measures • Art • Exercise • Tai-Chi • Movement • Gliders, rockers • Aromatherapy • Whirlpool • Environmental alteration • Repositioning/bracing
Non Pharmacologic RxCognitive/ Psychosocial/ Behavioral • Distraction • Talking/Listening • Reading • Pet Therapy • Meditation/Prayer • Humor • Peer Support Groups • Pastoral counseling
Non Pharmacologic RxCognitive/ Psychosocial/ Behavioral • Cueing • Relaxation therapy • Guided imagery • Deep breathing • Hypnosis • Biofeedback • Herr (2008), Altilio(2008) • Palliative Care Dementia Consortium (2008)
Medical Pain Management • Don’t delay for investigations or disease treatment • Unmanaged pain nervous system changes • permanent damage with amplified pain • Treat underlying cause (eg, radiation for a neoplasm)
Pain Medication Principles • By the patient • By the mouth • By the clock • With attention to bowels • Cecily Saunders also said, "Constant pain requires constant pain control."
Acetaminophen • Step 1 analgesic • APAP = acetyl-para-amino-phenol • Inhibitor of cyclo-oxygenase, COX-2 • low anti-inflammatory effect due to sensitivity to peripheral peroxidases • Prevents formation of prostaglandins and resultant pain • Blocks reuptake of endogenous cannabinoids • Dose routinely: i.e. 650 mg po qid
NSAIDS • Step 1 analgesic, coanalgesic • Inhibit cyclo-oxygenase (COX) • vary in COX-2 selectivity • All have analgesic ceiling effects • Effective for bone, inflammatory pain • High incidence of adverse effects
NSAIDS • GI inflammation • gastric cytoprotection possible (misoprostol) • COX-2 selective inhibitors less irritating • Proton Pump Inhibitors and H2 Blockers fail to help • Renal insufficiency • maintain adequate hydration • COX-2 selection inhibitors just as bad • never combine with ACE inhibitors ( renal failure) • Inhibition of platelet aggregation • assess for coagulopathy
OPIOIDS • Step 2 when combined with APAP in varying doses and ratios • Hydrocodone with APAP • Oxycodone with APAP • Codeine with APAP • Keep total daily dose of APAP below 4000 mg, (3000 mg chronically)
OPIOIDS Step 3 as a single entity product NO CEILING DOSE • Morphine • Oxycodone • Hydromorphone • Methadone • Fentanyl
Opioid pharmacology • Conjugated in liver • Excreted via kidney (90%–95%) • First-order kinetics • Dehydration, renal failure, severe hepatic failure • ádosing interval, â dosage size • if oliguric or anuric • reassess routine dosing • consider prn
Opioid pharmacology • Cmax after • po 1 h • SC, IM 30 min • IV 6 min • half-life at steady state • po / pr / SC / IM / IV 3-4 h • Steady state after 7 half lives (1 day) • Duration of immediate release 4 hours
Physicians who care do not order PRN analgesics alone. PRN stands for: • pro re nata == when necessary • Patient Receives Nothing • Please Restrict Narcotics • Pain Relief Nil • Physician’s Routine Nonsense • Pretend Relief is Nearby • Patient Required to Nag • Patient Restless all Night • Pathetic Rx of Narcotics
Routine Oral Dosing(immediate-release) Codeine, hydrocodone, morphine, hydromorphone, oxycodone • dose q 4 h • adjust dose daily • mild / mod pain 25%–50% • severe pain 50%–100% • adjust more quickly for severe uncontrolled pain
Routine Oral Dosing (timed release) • Improved compliance, adherence • Total daily dose divided • Dose q 8, 12, or 24 h (product specific) • don’t crush or chew tablets • may flush time-release granules through feeding tubes (Avinza) • Adjust dose q 2 - 4 days (once steady state reached)
Irrational Medications • Mixed agonist-antagonists: pentazocine, butorphanol, nalbuphine, dezocine, buprenorphine • compete with agonists withdrawal • analgesic ceiling effect • antagonist effect may outlast agonist • Weak opioids for breakthrough: • MSContin 40 mg po bid with hydrocodone/APAP 5/325 i po q4h prn breakthrough pain. • “If this strong opioid fails to work, then try a little of this weak one to cover the deficiency.” – absurd!
Breakthrough dosing (prn) • Use immediate-release opioids • 5% - 15% of daily dose given q4h prn • May offer after Cmax reached • po / pr q 1 h • SC, IM q 30 min • IV q 10–15 min • Do NOT use extended-release opioids for breakthrough pain
METHADONE • Dose interval for methadone is variable (q6h or q8h usually adequate) • Adjust methadone dose q 4 - 7 days • Start 2.5 q12h • Watch for sedation • Mu agonist like other opioids
METHADONE • NMDA antagonist: reverses opioid tolerance • Allows opioid action to treat neuropathy • Blocks reuptake of norepinephrine & serotonin • Decreases sensitivity of dorsal horn to pain input