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Updated: May 6, 2026
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Determining Pain Detection and Tolerance Thresholds Using an Integrated, Multi-Modal Pain Task Battery
Published on: April 14, 2016
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Pain management in older adults
Bridget Tracy1, R Sean Morrison
1Brookdale Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York.
Clinical Therapeutics
|October 24, 2013
Summary
Effective pain management in older adults requires understanding aging, using validated tools, and knowing common pain types. Pharmacologic treatment includes cautious use of opioids and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for chronic pain.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Medicine
- Pain Management
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Chronic pain affects many older adults, often going unrecognized and undertreated.
- Pain assessment and management in this population necessitate understanding aging physiology, validated tools, and common pain conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To outline key principles for managing pain in older adults.
- To focus on prevalent painful conditions and pharmacologic treatment strategies.
Main Methods:
- Searched PubMed for pain presentations in older adults with specific comorbidities (heart failure, ESRD, dementia, frailty, cancer).
- Reviewed pain management guidelines, original studies, and review articles (2000-present).
- Excluded non-pharmacologic pain treatments from the review.
Main Results:
- Clinical guidelines endorse opioid use for persistent nonmalignant pain, especially moderate-to-severe cases, with attention to toxicity and half-life.
- Oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are recommended with extreme caution and for limited durations.
Conclusions:
- Effective pain management in older adults hinges on understanding pain pathophysiology, assessment, and pharmacologic strategies.
- Familiarity with common pain presentations is crucial for successful clinical management.
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