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Chronic Pain in General Practice
Author(s) -
Bowering Owen
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
australian drug and alcohol review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.018
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1465-3362
pISSN - 0819-5331
DOI - 10.1080/09595238780000451
Subject(s) - mistake , narcotic , distress , chronic pain , outcome (game theory) , psychology , medicine , psychiatry , psychotherapist , law , political science , mathematics , mathematical economics
Under some circumstances it is a mistake not to use powerful narcotics when there is a clear indication to do so. Some acute situations are used to illustrate this view. When dealing with chronic pain, not relieved by non‐narcotic orthodox medical treatment, the likely outcome of the illness is the main consideration. When there is even a slim hope of recovery, where there is pain and distress, the thought of using powerful narcotics may make the attendant very uneasy. A major tranquilliser such as chlorpromazine (Largactil) helps emotionally and enhances the effect of narcotics. In home care it is sometimes difficult to persuade the family to give enough. The facility of communication with the family is to be preserved as far as possible, as it is so important to both sides.