Description

Schecter et al identified a number of findings that may indicate the presence of significant pain in an elderly patient. This can help identify a patient who may benefit from a more careful evaluation and pain medication. The authors are from the University of California San Francisco and Albany Medical College in New York.


 

Barriers to recognition:

(1) nonverbal or has difficulty communicating

(2) altered mental status

(3) sedating medications

(4) other neurologic deficits (paralysis, etc.)

 

Behaviors that may indicate underlying pain:

(1) aggression

(2) disruptive

(3) withdrawn

 

Body movements that may indicate underlying pain:

(1) rigidity

(2) tenseness

(3) fidgeting

(4) pacing

(5) rocking

(6) gait abnormalities

(7) tightly gripping things

 

Facial expressions that may indicate underlying pain:

(1) frowning

(2) wincing

(3) wrinkling of the forehead

(4) distorted facial expression

(5) forceful eye closure

(6) rapid eye blinking

 

The presence of any of these findings may indicate the presence of underlying pain.

 


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