Has anyone else ever worked with LTC residents that were on a lot of pain medications but it was not clear why they were being given them regularely? I hope I worded that right...I'll explain...
In our LTC, we have a 67 year old woman who has had both hips replaced previously and claims that she has chronic hip pain. This woman in the past was treated with numerous narcotics and I believe she has an addiction. She is a manipulative woman; as well as being of sound mind.
These are her pain meds...
Oxycontin 40mg BID (0500 & 1730hrs)
MOS syrup 5mg PRN (which she asks for every day at 1400hrs).
Morphine 1mg s/c PRN (which she asks for everyday at 2200hrs)
She also regularly requests gravol 50mg @ 0500, 0900, 1400 & 2000hrs.
There are absolutely no non-verbal cues of her being in pain and she is so manipulative etc that she will lie and tell you all sorts of stories to get her medications. The staff are so tired of her games that they just deliver her gravol etc at the appropriate times without waiting for her to ask anymore. This woman will inspect what is in the medication cup before you leave too, just to make sure that her gravol is there.
Needless to say, this woman is complete PIA (I could go into more details but I'll save you all the trouble).
From my understanding, when the doctor would come visit her, he would just say "okay, what can I prescribe for you to help you to feel better," and would write down what she wanted.'
Why do they do this? Is it not only aiding her drug addiction?