NURS 350 Discussion Taking narcotics for back pain
NURS 350 Discussion Taking narcotics for back pain
NURS 350 Discussion Taking narcotics for back pain
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When you critically evaluate a study, you must decide whether you agree or disagree with the researcher’s theoretical framework (the underlying assumption or theory that supported the formation of the hypothesis and the development of the research design). The following scenarios have two possible hypotheses, each driven by a different theory.
Choose one scenario and one hypothesis from that scenario as required by NURS 350 Discussion Taking narcotics for back pain. Identify your personal assumptions about this hypothesis and choose a nursing theory to support your assumptions. You may use information from http://www.nursing-theory.org/theories-and-models/ to help you. Defend your answer.
Scenario 1: A patient with chronic back pain requests a narcotic prescription.
1. Hypothesis: In patients with chronic back pain not caused by injury, what is the effect of eight weeks of physical therapy compared to oral narcotic medication on the patients’ perception of pain?
2. Hypothesis: Are patients with chronic back pain who are denied narcotic pain medications at increased risk of depression as compared to patients on a prescribed pain regimen using oral narcotics?
Scenario 2: A diabetic patient misses several follow-up appointments.
1. Hypothesis: In patients with type 2 diabetes, does the use of an educational diabetic phone app improve compliance with appointments, diet, and medication regimens?
2. Hypothesis: Do patients with type 2 diabetes with a low economic status miss more follow-up appointments than patients with type 2 diabetes with a high economic status?
Taking narcotics for back pain
Narcotics are strong drugs that are sometimes used to treat pain. They are also called opioids. You take them only when your pain is so severe that you cannot work or do your daily tasks. They may also be used if other types of pain medicine do not relieve pain.
Narcotics can provide short-term relief of severe back pain. This can allow you to return to your normal daily routine.
Narcotics work by attaching themselves to pain receptors in your brain. Pain receptors receive chemical signals sent to your brain and help create the sensation of pain. When narcotics attach to pain receptors, the drug can block the feeling of pain. Even though narcotics can block the pain, they cannot cure the cause of your pain.
Names of Narcotics
Narcotics include:
- Codeine
- Fentanyl (Duragesic). Comes as a patch that sticks to your skin.
- Hydrocodone (Vicodin)
- Hydromorphone (Dilaudid)
- Meperidine (Demerol)
- Morphine (MS Contin)
- Oxycodone (Oxycontin, Percocet, Percodan)
- Tramadol (Ultram)
Taking Narcotics
according to NURS 350 Discussion Taking narcotics for back pain, Narcotics are called “controlled substances” or “controlled medicines.” This means that their use is regulated by law. One reason for this is that narcotics can be addictive. To avoid narcotics addiction, take these drugs exactly as your health care provider and pharmacist prescribes.
DO NOT take narcotics for back pain for more than 3 to 4 months at a time. (This amount of time may even be too long for some people.) There are many other interventions of medications and treatments with good results for long term back pain that does not include narcotics. Chronic narcotic use is not healthy for you.
How you take narcotics will depend on your pain. Your provider may advise you to take them only when you have pain. Or you may be advised to take them on a regular schedule if your pain is hard to control.
Some important guidelines to follow while taking narcotics include:
- DO NOT share your narcotic medicine with anyone.
- If you are seeing more than one provider, tell each one that you are taking narcotics for pain. Taking too much can cause an overdose or addiction. You should only get pain medicine from one physician.
- When your pain begins to lessen, talk with the provider you see for pain about switching to another kind of pain reliever.
- Store your narcotics safely. Keep them out of reach of children and others in your home.
Common Side Effects of Narcotics
according to NURS 350 Discussion Taking narcotics for back pain, Narcotics can make you sleepy and confused. Impaired judgment is common. When you are taking narcotics, DO NOT drink alcohol, use street drugs, or drive or operate heavy machinery.
These medicines can make your skin feel itchy. If this is a problem for you, talk with your provider about lowering your dose or trying another medicine.
Some people become constipated when taking narcotics. If this happens, your provider may advise you to drink more fluids, get more exercise, eat foods with extra fiber, or use stool softeners. Other medicines can often help with constipation.
NURS 350 Discussion Taking narcotics for back pain states that If the narcotic medicine makes you feel sick to your stomach or causes you to throw up, try taking your medicine with food. Other medicines can often help with nausea, as well.
Alternative Names
Nonspecific back pain – narcotics; Backache – chronic – narcotics; Lumbar pain – chronic – narcotics; Pain – back – chronic – narcotics; Chronic back pain – low – narcotics
References
Chaparro LE, Furlan AD, Deshpande A, Mailis-Gagnon A, Atlas S, Turk DC. Opioids compared with placebo or other treatments for chronic low-back pain: an update of the Cochrane Review. Spine. 2014;39(7):556-563. PMID: 24480962 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24480962.
Dinakar P. Principles of pain management. In: Daroff RB, Jankovic J, Mazziotta JC, Pomeroy SL, eds. Bradley’s Neurology in Clinical Practice. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2016:chap 54.
Hobelmann JG, Clark MR. Substance use disorders and detoxification. In: Benzon HT, Raja SN, Liu SS, Fishman SM, Cohen SP, eds. Essentials of Pain Medicine. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 47.
Turk DC. Psychosocial aspects of chronic pain. In: Benzon HT, Rathmell JP, WU CL, Turk DC, Argoff CE, Hurley RW, eds. Practical Management of Pain. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Mosby; 2014:chap 12.
Low back pain is a regular occurrence. The major goal of pharmacological pain management in the acute (duration 6 weeks) and subacute (duration 6-12 weeks) pain stages is to allow patients to move and stay as active as feasible. Pain drugs can help enhance non-pharmacological interventions and improve physical function in the chronic phase. Although almost everyone will have low back pain at some point in their lives, there are few clinical trials on the efficacy of various pain treatments.
The majority of data on the efficacy of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs) in acute and chronic low back pain is available; nevertheless, when the medication is recommended, potential adverse effects and contraindications for NSAIDs must be considered. The efficacy of non-opioid medicines (such as paracetamol and metamizole) has not been adequately explored. In the short term, both weak and powerful opioids have been proven to be more beneficial than placebo; however, there is growing evidence that opioids are no more effective than non-opioid drugs in the treatment of acute and chronic low back pain.
according to NURS 350 Discussion Taking narcotics for back pain, Opioids’ gastrointestinal and central nervous system side effects should also be evaluated. Conclusion: The selection of a specific pain medication for low back pain is based on the preferences, contraindications, and potential side effects of the individual patient. The primary purpose of pain drugs is to allow patients to maintain their level of activity. Nonpharmacological pain management is useful in persistent pain and should be used in conjunction with pharmacological pain management.