Best Practices of Nonpharmacological Modalities for Pain Relief

This paper will discuss the use of nonpharmacological modalities for pain relief. Pain can be difficult to assess in clients. It is different for each individual and the best way to determine a client’s pain is through subjective data. I learned in lecture that it is also important to observe a client’s facial expressions, posture, and body movements when assessing for pain. I was lucky to be able to experience in clinical this semester, many clients who were experiencing severe post-operative pain. After receiving opioids and non-opioid medications, most of these clients were still continuing to experience severe unrelieved pain. These occurrences inspired my curiosity with the use of nonpharmacological modalities. I have already learned in lecture that different types of nonpharmacological modalities such as, massage, music, and guided imagery can help relieve pain when used along with pharmacological medications. However, I wanted to research the different types of nonpharmacological modalities that are available for nurses and which ones work best for different areas of the body. What are the best nonpharmacological modalities currently in use within the nursing practice that may help alleviate pain in a hospitalized client? The following three articles present information on several types of nonpharmacological modalities along with which ones were found to be most successful in alleviating certain types of pain and which ones were not.

An article from the Journal of Rehabilitation and Research & Development, “Efficacy of selected complementary and alternative medicine interventions for chronic pain” discusses several different types of nonpharmacological pain modalities and the review of effectiveness for each. This article ...

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...mber 23). Retrieved April 19, 2011, from Veterans Health Administration Research Development: http://www.research.va.gov/programs/rrd.cfm

EA, G., RJA, L., DJ, M., SM, P., CA, D., & JP., M. (2010). Effects of guided imagery on postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing same-day surgical procedures: a randomized, single-blind study. American Association of Nurse Anesthetists Journal, 181-188.

G, T., MH, C., MJ, B., MK, G., J, G., MP, J., et al. (2007). Efficacy of selected complementary and alternative medicine interventions for chronic pain. Journal of Rehabilitation Research & Development, 195-222.

Terry Richards, B. R., Jennifer Johnson, B. C., Amy Sparks, M. R.-C., & Howard Emerson, C. (2007). The effect of music therapy on patients' perception and manifestation of pain, anxiety, and patient satisfaction. MEDSURG Nursing. The Journal of Adult Health, 7-15.