A client is diagnosed with chronic low back pain syndrome. The nurse realizes that the analgesic delivery route that might be beneficial for this client would be:

Question

1. Topical.
2. Rectal.
3. Transmucosal.
4. Transdermal.

Answer 1

Correct Answer: 1
Rationale 1: Topical medications work directly at the point of application on the body. They are useful for painful procedures such as lumbar punctures or bone marrow biopsies, or for injections. These products can also offer effective pain relief for chronic pain syndromes such as low back pain.
Rationale 2: The rectal route is useful for clients who have difficulty swallowing, or nausea and vomiting.
Rationale 3: The transmucosal route is helpful for breakthrough pain because the oral mucosa is well vascularized, which facilitates rapid absorption.
Rationale 4: The transdermal approach delivers a relatively stable plasma drug level, and is noninvasive. The medication, however, is systemic which might not be what is necessary for the client with chronic low back pain syndrome.