Question

The nurse is caring for a client with terminal bone cancer. The client states, My pain is getting worse and worse, and the

morphine doesn't help anymore. The nurse determines the client's pain is which of the following?
A) Acute
B) Chronic malignant
C) Diffuse
D) Intractable

Answer 1

The client with terminal bone cancer experiencing pain not alleviated by morphine is suffering from intractable pain, which is constant, severe, and resistant to treatment.

Step-by-step explanation:

The client's pain, as described by the nurse in the scenario where the client has terminal bone cancer and is no longer finding relief from morphine, is best categorized as intractable pain. This type of pain is severe, constant, and not fully relieved by medical treatment. Although chronic malignant pain could also be considered due to the nature of the bone cancer, the emphasis on the lack of response to morphine hones in on the definition of intractable pain, as it represents a situation where the pain is seemingly untreatable or resistant to the pain relief measures that have been taken.

Understanding that inflammatory pain is a signal of tissue damage and neuropathic pain results from damage to neurons, it's important to consider the complexity of pain management which may involve a range of treatments including analgesic medications, relaxation therapy, or even deep brain stimulation depending on the individual's specific circumstances and the nature of their pain.