Pain is NOT subjective

Yep, I can't even count how many times I have seen commercials for Lyrica on TV the last couple of months. And I don't even watch TV that often...The drug reps definitely do make an impression on the public whether they realize it or not.

They realize it, thats why they do it. I loved that episode on Boston Legal where Bill Shatner dropped dead. Of course revived. Then they found out he was taking every med they advertised on TV because he believed them. That was a good episode

It is so easy for some people to be judgemental (?SP) about another person's pain. Everyone reacts differently to pain and we function at different levels. So someone could be smiling at an 8 while another person cries at an 8. Our tolerance levels are different and our ability to carry on ADLs with pain vary. If this is not subjective, then I would like your boss to explain to me how she or he perceives pain. I ask my patients at what level are they able to perform usual ADLs and what is a comfortable level for them, that sounds subjective to me. And yes, pain is very subjective.

I don't really have much to add except that you are right, pain IS subjective and that your boss is a moron.

The real problem is that while pain is subjective, a few people will lie about their pain level in order to get meds, and we have no accurate way to ascertain who is lying and who isn't. It sure seems to me that less harm will result from getting suckered by a few drug seekers than leaving many more to suffer from undertreated pain.

The drug seekers are ultimately responsible for the harm they do themselves, but we as nursing professionals are at least partly responsible for the harm done by withholding adequate pain relief.

Methadone for fibromyalgia?


Wonderful.

Are you the advocate of the director. No you are the patient's advocate.

That means if the Patient Says they are in Pain. They are in pain. I am another stoic nurse mainly because I don't like being out of control. That being said when I hurt, I SEEK relief. If I think I need pain medicine, and I seek you out to give it to me.......give it. Be the patient's advocate, over and over and over again.