Nursing needs its leaders to respond to Francis
Share
Research carried out by Nuffield Health found a third of people using pain medication on a long-term basis were concerned they needed the pills to function normally. And the study discovered 37% felt they would not be able to carry on working without taking painkillers.
The study involved a poll of 3,100 people and found that 1,659 - more than 53% - had been taking painkillers to manage pain or injury over the previous 12 months. Of these people, 14% said they had taken more than the recommended safe dose.
What information should patients taking long-term painkillers receive from health professionals?
Is it safe for patients to take long term pain killers?
Are patients missing out on more effective interventions to treat their pain?
Painkiller dependency worries one in three patients, survey suggests
Have your say
You must sign in to make a comment.
From Behind the Rituals
Why do you do the things you do? How much of nursing practice is based on ritual and myth and how much on sound evidence? If you have a ritual you’d like to discuss here, email nursingtimescomments@emap.com
Readers' comments (3)
PDave Angel | 6-Mar-2013 1:34 pm
I used to take paracetamols every day when I suffered from headaches. It reached the point when I would take one just when I thought I was getting a headache.
Was I taking them properly?
Unsuitable or offensive?
redpaddys12 | 7-Mar-2013 3:37 am
PDave Angel
No, you weren't. Also, paracetamol is not addictive.
Unsuitable or offensive?
Anonymous | 9-Mar-2013 10:15 am
Living with chronic pain conditions is not easy. One has to balance the risks and benefits. All medications have side effects. I have taken tramadol for 18 years, and am dependent on it to control severe neuropathic leg pain, after alternative management options did not work. It makes the pain bearable, so that I can carry out normal activities. It does have a down side due to the opiate type action, but until a wonder drug comes along it is the only way I can have a life, so the risks are worth it. It is vital that nurses are aware of the increased analgesic requirements of those of us with chronic pain when undergoing acute surgery or suffering trauma. My chronic medication will have little effect on acute pain. I need high doses of morphine on top of my usual tramadol. However I can always stop the morphine when the acute episode is over. Taking medication is better than relentless pain.
Unsuitable or offensive?