PAIN

Chronic pain is one of the most common conditions found by health professionals in the elderly and is associated with substantial impairment of reduced mobility, avoidance of activities, depression, sleep impairment and isolation. 

Pain is one of the most common medical complaints, but despite its prevalence, many individuals still suffer with unrelieved or undertreated pain. Pain, when it is ongoing and uncontrolled, has a detrimental, deteriorative effect on virtually every aspect of life. It produces anxiety and emotional distress; undermines well-being; interferes with functional capacity; and hinders the ability to fulfill family, social, and vocational roles.

This recent Pain Management article addresses the need for a national pain management strategy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Providers conducting in-person visits and procedures must balance the mental and physical needs of their patients with constantly evolving resources, logistics, regulations and local conditions. The experts propose a framework that weighs the often-conflicting goals of risk mitigation for providers and patients with access and resource conservation. They address patient flow issues and staffing plans, telemedicine options, triaging recommendations and resource use.

Research shows that those with chronic pain are four times more likely to have depression or anxiety than those who are pain-free.

TeleECHO Series: Depression in Older Adults – October 2020

Mental health will be the conversation during our October TeleEcho sessions. We will further the discussion on how mental health and depression relates to the 4Ms framework and how to incorporate tools and best practices. Be sure to register and attend.

Tuesday, October 13, 2020
12:00 p.m. CT
University of North Dakota TeleEcho Session
Register Today

October 20, 2020
12:00 p.m. CT
Great Plains Quality Innovation Network TeleECHO Huddle
Register Today

 

 

Pain Medicine, Volume 21, Issue 7, July 2020, Pages 1331–1346, https://doi.org/10.1093/pm/pnaa127