PAIN-TIMING OF ANALGESIA

SUMMARY

BREAKTHROUGH PAIN
1. Breakthrough pain (pain flare) is an exacerbation of chronic pain otherwise stabilised on round-the-clock analgesia.
2. Managed with PRN analgesia when pain occurs.
3. If frequent PRN doses then ↑ background analgesia.

INCIDENT PAIN
4. Incident pain occurs with, or is exacerbated by, physical activity or an event such as a wound dressing, repositioning.
5. This is managed with analgesia PRIOR to the incident.

Reference(s)

Cifu, D.X. (2020). Braddom’s physical medicine and rehabilitation. Elsevier. Get it on Amazon.
Cuccurullo, S. (2019). Physical medicine and rehabilitation board review. New York: Demosmedical. Get it on Amazon.
O’Young, B., Young, M.A. and Stiens, S.A. (2008). Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Secrets. Mosby. Get it on Amazon.