A closer look: Alternative pain management practices by heart failure patients with chronic pain

To describe alternative non-pharmaceutical non-nutraceutical pain self-management strategies used by people with heart failure (HF) in order to reduce chronic non-cardiac pain.

Little is known about alternative pain self-treatments used by HF patients with chronic pain.

A cross-sectional descriptive design was used with 25 hospitalized HF patients who had chronic pain and used at least one alternative pain treatment. Pain intensity, pain interference with function, and current pain treatments were measured with the Brief Pain Inventory.

Alternative treatments included walking, stretching, use of heat and cold. Five patients used evidence-based pain treatments for their chronic pain conditions. Patients reported moderate pain intensity and pain interference with activity.

Patients with HF and chronic pain use few alternative pain treatments. Screening for chronic pain and referral to Integrative Medicine and/or Palliative care for a pain management consult might reduce the added burden of pain in people with HF.