Pain Relief

Objectives

To reduce the suffering associated with the experience of pain to a degree that the patient is comfortable.

Notes

The adequacy of pain relief should be discussed with the patient and balanced against medication side effects. The patient reporting comfort is the most important sign of adequate pain relief.

Distressed appearance, physiological signs of pain and verbal numerical rating may contribute to determining the adequacy of analgesia.

An inability to report or rate pain (e.g. intellectual disability, neurodiversity, non-English speaking) should not stop administration of pain relief.

Consider smaller doses in small, frail or elderly patients (or animals!).