Nursing Diagnosis for Pain (Acute / Chronic) related to Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis and affects more than 20 million Americans. Osteoarthritis is a serious and painful condition. It is a condition that adversely affects hyaline articular cartilage, the tough gristle that caps the ends of long bones. This degenerative disease of the joints can result in considerable pain, the loss of cartilage as well as varying levels of tenderness.

Symptoms of Osteoarthritis (OA)
1. Mild or acute pain after a simple or even a difficult activity.
2. Great distress and discomfort, specifically when the weather changes.
3. Emergence of lumps in middle finger and at the bottom of the thumb.

Nursing Diagnosis: Pain (Acute / Chronic) related to distention of the tissues by the accumulation of fluid / inflammation, joint destruction.

Nursing Interventions for Osteoarthritis - Pain (Acute / Chronic)

• Assess complaints of pain; note the location and intensity of pain (scale 0-10). Note that accelerating factors and signs of non-verbal pain.
• Give a hard mattress, a small pillow. Elevate the bed when a client needs to rest / sleep.
• Help clients take a comfortable position when sleeping or sitting in a chair. Depth of bed rest as indicated.
• Monitor the use of pillows.
• Encourage clients to frequently change positions.
• Help clients to a warm bath at the time of waking.
• Help clients to a warm compress on the sore joints several times a day.
• Monitor the temperature compress.
• Give a gentle massage.
• Encourage the use of stress management techniques such as progressive relaxation bio feedback therapeutic touch, visualization, self hypnosis imagination guidance and control of breath.
• Engage in entertainment activities appropriate to individual situations.
• Give the drug before the activity / planned exercise as directed.
• Help clients with physical therapy.

Expected outcomes / evaluation criteria

• The pain showed reduced or controlled
• Looks relaxed, can rest, sleep and ability to participate in appropriate activities.
• Follow the treatment program.
• Using the skills of relaxation and entertainment activities in a pain control program.
  

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http://nandanursingdiagnoses.blogspot.com/2014/02/acute-pain-ncp-angina-pectoris.html