Although there are some upsides to feeling pain, such as it’s a clear signal that there’s something wrong in our bodies that we need to address, feeling it constantly can gravely impact a person’s quality of life and productivity. Nurses must understand the specific needs of patients with chronic pain to help them manage their pain effectively.
As healthcare professionals with direct access to patients, nurses can help teach patients about effective pain relief strategies and lifestyle changes that can relieve pain symptoms and allow them to perform daily tasks with less pain and limitations. In this article, we outline nursing dos and don’ts for patients with chronic pain, helping nurses provide physical and emotional support to patients in need.
Chronic pain nursing care guidelines for better outcomes
☐ Do: Gather as much information about a patient’s pain symptoms and levels
During intake and interactions, ensure that you get as much information as you can from the patient in an empathetic manner. Active listening and adopting effective communication strategies are critical in establishing patient trust, which allows nurses to gather important patient information that can be used to help patients manage pain levels more effectively. When patients trust their nurses, they’ll feel more comfortable sharing the levels of pain they feel, enabling healthcare workers to explore more optimized treatment strategies.
☐ Don’t: Diminish or compare patients’ pain
When your patients express the depths of the pain they’re feeling, never dismiss them or compare their pain with that of other patients with chronic pain. Not everyone experiences pain in the same way. Diminishing or dismissing their pain can make them feel like their pain is not being taken seriously and cause them to feel frustrated, unheard, and uncared for.
When communicating with patients suffering from chronic pain, it’s helpful to listen, speak, and act with empathy. Nurses should also review previous treatments and procedures before talking about possible treatment options. During exercises or treatments, tell them that it’s okay to take breaks whenever they need. Showing empathy and support can go a long way.
☐ Do: Encourage patients to move and stay active
Exercising can help patients dealing with chronic pain, helping build stronger muscles, keep joints moving, and improve stamina and weight control. Although exercising can cause muscle soreness, especially when done without professional supervision, it’s important to introduce physical activity gradually. A 2017 report states that although many people with chronic pain are scared to exercise, thinking that it would exacerbate their pain, physical activity does not cause harm.
Exercises such as walking, swimming, yoga, Pilates, and tai chi can help improve circulation, build core and back muscle strength, and posture, which can contribute to mobility, flexibility, and strength.
☐ Don’t: Discourage patients from sharing how they feel or ignoring their symptoms
Don’t encourage patients to ignore or downplay the pain they feel, as this can lead to the worsening of their conditions. When patients feel as if healthcare professionals don’t believe them or that their pain is acute and not chronic, they will be less likely to trust healthcare professionals and express the extent of their pain and other symptoms.
As healthcare workers, we must advocate for our patients and encourage them to express how they’re feeling. Although communicating pain levels is not easy for everyone, it has many benefits. When chronic pain symptoms are openly discussed, it leads to improved diagnoses, treatment plans, and quality of life.
☐ Do: Encourage physical therapy and aquatic therapy
Patients with chronic pain can benefit from physical therapy via body mechanics education, guided exercises, myofascial release, and electrical stimulation. Aside from physical therapy, water therapy can also be an option worth considering. Water therapy, otherwise referred to as hydrotherapy or aquatic therapy, can relieve pain and stiffness.
Nurses play a crucial role in the care and well-being of patients living with chronic pain. By adopting empathetic communication, actively listening, and validating each patient’s unique experiences, nurses can build trust and foster a supportive environment that encourages openness and healing.
