Journal of pain & palliative care pharmacotherapy
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J Pain Palliat Care Pharmacother · Sep 2016
Addressing the Challenge of Emergency Department Analgesia: Innovation in the Use of Opioid Alternatives.
The current epidemic of opioid toxicity and deaths has led clinicians and policy-makers to explore alternatives to opioids for management of moderate to severe pain. One environment in which opioid use has been questioned is the emergency department (ED). This commentary addresses the proposal for "opioid-free EDs" and discusses the risk-to-benefit ratios of opioid and alternative pharmacotherapy for acutely injured patients requiring analgesia. ⋯ Innovations in managing pain in the ED are needed. But excessive restriction on opioid pharmacotherapy in emergency medicine carries the risk of replacing overprescribing with underprescribing of opioids. The commentary supports the need to establish a core of evidence to support efforts to increase the use of nonopioid and nonpharmacologic modalities for those suffering from pain.
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Questions from patients about pain conditions and analgesic pharmacotherapy and responses from authors are presented to help educate patients and make them more effective self-advocates. In reply to a question about fibromyalgia, the authors discuss symptoms, the use of opioids and naltrexone, other medication and nonmedication options, and managing expectations for treatment.
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J Pain Palliat Care Pharmacother · Sep 2016
Finding Peace Beyond the Pain: Sunder's Journey in the Hospice.
Dame Cicely Saunders revolutionized the concept of pain by coining the term "total pain", the sum of the physical, psychological, social, spiritual, emotional components that make up the total pain experience. Optimal pain relief may not be possible until all elements of the pain and suffering are addressed. This narrative describes the journey of Sunder in the hospice. ⋯ He stayed on by choice and found the peace he was looking for beyond his pain and sufferings, ably supported by the dedicated hospice team. He was able to live the last few months of his life as comfortably as was possible, and left this world in peace, with dignity. The narrative reiterates the belief that hospice, with its philosophy of active "total care" is an ideal place for addressing the concept of "total pain."