Question

The patient was discharged to a skilled nursing facility and is receiving physical therapy and occupational therapy 6 days each week. Current Meds: Aspirin 81 mg daily; atorvastatin 80 mg at bedtime; multivitamin 1 daily; gabapentin 100 mg three times daily; pantoprazole 40 mg daily, tamsulosin 0.4 mg daily, heparin 5000 units twice daily until discharged home, hydrocodone/acetaminophen 5/325 mg every 6 hours as needed for pain. Pain Assessment: Patient reports pain of 7 out of 10; worse with movement. Physical therapy notes indicate patient is unable to complete therapy goals due to complaints of pain. Based on this information, what would you recommend to optimize pain control?

Answer 1

Recommendations to optimize pain control

• Heat or cold applications

Heat or cold applications within the temperature control may be beneficial in reducing pain to some extent. It perforates immeasurably into the muscles and tissues, relieving pain.

• Massage

Massaging has proven to be one of the best methods in decreasing chronic pain by relaxing the muscles tensions.

• Spinal cord stimulation

In the epidural part of the spinal cord, electrodes are positioned and with the help of an implanted electrical pulse generator, the impulses can be sent to the spinal cord which breaks in the pain signalling to the brain.