The Concept Of Chronic Pain Nursing Essay

The Concept Of Chronic Pain Nursing Essay

Psychological effects can include feelings of frustration, low mood and concern about the future. Depression and anxiety are common factors in the affected and these can have a greater debilitating effect on the patient as they can lower the pain threshold and further potentiate the pain. Chronic pain sufferers have three times the risk of developing psychiatric disorders, usually mood or anxiety disorders, while depressed patients have three times the average risk of developing chronic pain (Turk DC June 2002).

Social implications can include concerns about work, role within the family and whether the patient can continue to engage in valued leisure activities.

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Nearly half of chronic pain sufferers have to give up work due to their excess pain, despite wanting to work and contribute to society. Research has shown that nearly a third are worried about losing their jobs as a result of their pain, while 44% worry that it will stop them from progressing in their career (Collett 2010).

Meanwhile, the patient’s role within the family can change drastically too. The sufferer can become dependent both physically and emotionally on family members. As the sources of support decline with the development and maintenance of a chronic pain problem (e.g. loss of work, recreational and other social activities) the importance of perceived marital support increases (Kerns and Turk, 1984). A significant amount of pressure is placed on the spouse to help and if the patient feels they are not being supported properly, depression may ensue. It has also been shown that spouses can have positive or negative effects on the patient’s pain. If the spouse is unsolicitous, the patient exhibited fewer pain behaviours in their presence than when they were not there (Kerns and Turk, 1984).

The physical and psychological impact of chronic pain may hinder both the desire and ability to partake in leisure activities. Inability to take part in old hobbies can have a detrimental effect on the individual’s quality of life and severity of pain. Inaccessible facilities, lack of transport, absence of support or negative attitudes from others may all impact negatively on leisure (Specht et al., 2002). This can all lead to further potentiation of the individual’s leaning on family for support.

In Ireland, there are still no sufficient treatment care structures for conditions such as chronic pain. A common complaint is the time taken to receive effective treatment. For example, a study shows that “the waiting time to be assessed in clinic was beyond the acceptable time which is an average of 12 weeks”(Fullen et al., 2006).The study also found out that “There are no multidisciplinary pain clinics or pain clinics that meet the IASP recommended guidelines for the management of chronic pain patients” (Fullen et al., 2006). In the CSAG study, they found “that the number of consultant sessions was too low, and only half of the services had a specialist chronic pain nurse” ((CSAG), 2000)……………………..

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