PAIN ASSESSMENT AND

MANAGEMENT
Types of pain
and aches

back ache
stomach ache
headache
toothache

The number pain scale where a patient rates their pain on a scale of 1 to 10.
A scale with faces showing various expressions: the patient selects the face
Pain that reflects how they feel. This scale is often used with children who can’t
count.
intensity

0 = no pain
1= weak
2 = mild
3 = uncomfortable
4 = moderate
5= unpleasant
6 = strong
7 = unmanageable
8 = intense
9 = severe
10 = excruciating

English World dirigé par Steve KENNEDY (Gérant) dont le siège social est situé 8 Rue Georges de la Tour 54000 NANCY – Tél : 03.83.30.77.62
Barth EURL – RCS Nancy B 423129634 – N° d’Existence délivré par la Préfecture de Lorraine : 41 54 022 57 54
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 PAIN ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT

Pain assessment

PQRST and SOCRATES are two mnemonic acronym methods of pain assessment available to
medical professionals to guide the pain assessment interview with a patient.

Provocation/ Palliation
What were you doing when the pain started?
What caused it?
What makes it better or worse?

Quality / Quantity
What does it feel like?
Use words to describe the pain such as; sharp, dull, stabbing, etc.

Region / Radiation
Where is the pain located?
Does the pain radiate? Where?
Does it feel like it travels/moves around?

Severity / Scale
How severe is the pain on a scale of 0 to 10, with zero being no pain and 10 being the worst pain
ever?
Timing
When/at what time did the pain start?
How long did it last?
How often does it occur: hourly? daily? weekly? monthly?

English World dirigé par Steve KENNEDY (Gérant) dont le siège social est situé 8 Rue Georges de la Tour 54000 NANCY – Tél : 03.83.30.77.62
Barth EURL – RCS Nancy B 423129634 – N° d’Existence délivré par la Préfecture de Lorraine : 41 54 022 57 54
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 PAIN ASSESSMENT AND
MANAGEMENT
Pain
Useful principles of pain management can be
management
remembered by using the “ABCDE method”.

Analgesics
More commonly called painkillers which are used for mild pain relief.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs)

These are used to reduce inflammation which can decrease pain.

Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs)

TCAs can be effective in treating neuropathic pain, and can provide a mild analgesic effect.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)

SSRIs can be used as adjunct therapy for depression and neuropathic pain.

Anticonvulsants
Anticonvulsants can provide sedation and a graded analgesic effect.

Anesthetics
Anesthetics can be used for epidurals or nerve blocks to assist with acute or chronic pain.

Opioids
Text
Opioids (also known as narcotics) can be used 2 both acute and chronic pain. They are used to treat
with
severe pain that may not respond well to other pain medications.

English World dirigé par Steve KENNEDY (Gérant) dont le siège social est situé 8 Rue Georges de la Tour 54000 NANCY – Tél : 03.83.30.77.62
Barth EURL – RCS Nancy B 423129634 – N° d’Existence délivré par la Préfecture de Lorraine : 41 54 022 57 54
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Page 3 / 3 MAJ du 09/09/2021