An older client with a history of severe arthritis has not received pain medication for over 18 hours. The client is currently complaining of severe pain in both legs. What will the nurse attribute as being the reason for the client's increase in pain?
1. Dependency on narcotics
2. Over-exaggeration of the amount of pain
3. Need for alternative measures for pain relief
4. Untreated pain resulting in lower pain threshold
4. Untreated pain resulting in lower pain threshold
Explanation: 1. Narcotic dependency in the older adult is unlikely.
2. Pain is whatever the client says it is. The nurse cannot assume that the client is over-exaggerating the amount of pain being experienced.
3. Alternative measures may be helpful, but something else is needed to help the client with severe pain.
4. With untreated pain, the nociceptors become sensitive and more responsive to stimuli resulting in a lowered pain threshold. This client experienced a long period of time between administrations of pain medication, and this causes an increase in the pain experienced.
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