Case Study: John's Lower Back Pain, Analgesics, and Nursing Care

This case study examines the nursing care of a patient named John, who is experiencing lower back pain. The assignment begins with an introduction outlining the scope of nursing care, followed by an analysis of John's condition. The main body of the report focuses on the pathophysiology of John's lower back pain, including potential causes such as metastatic lesions on the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae, and the diagnostic use of MRI. It also discusses the effectiveness of NSAIDs for pain management in older people, emphasizing the importance of dosage. The report then addresses the appropriate analgesic prescriptions following the MRI report, supporting the recommendations with evidence. The conclusion summarizes the key findings and emphasizes the importance of accurate diagnosis and effective pain management strategies. References to relevant books and journals are included to support the analysis.

Nursing
Case Scenario

Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
Main Body.......................................................................................................................................3
Explain the pathophysiology of John’s lower back pain and discuss briefly the effectiveness
of NSAIDS for pain management in older people......................................................................3
Following the MRI report, and the pain being persistent, which analgesics should be
prescribed to Mr John? Support your answer with evidence......................................................3
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................4
References........................................................................................................................................5

Introduction
Nursing encompasses autonomous and collaborative care of individuals of all age, groups
and communities sick in all settings (Kim. and et. al., 2016). The present report is based on case
scenario of given patient named John complaining about lower back pain. It will focus on
pathophysiology of patient lower back pain and analgesic prescription for them.
Main Body
Explain the pathophysiology of John’s lower back pain and discuss briefly the effectiveness of
NSAIDS for pain management in older people
According to the case given about John experiencing lower back pain that become worse
after sometime and he referred to rheumatologist for further treatment. It consist the situation of
extreme pain in lower back which get worsening after certain duration of time that requires
attention of rheumatologist immediately. Pathophysiology of Lumbar spine pain consist several
causes of this health problem that includes weight lifting, twisting of the trunk, banding trunk
forward, excessive reaching, falls, prolonged setting, sedentary jobs, highly physical jobs,
exposure to whole body, cigarette smoking, obesity and extreme tallness (Chan and et. al., 2016).

Pathophysiology consist the major symptom of lower back pain in case of John due to presence
of metastatic lesions on thoracic and lumbar vertebrae.
Moreover, the pathological procedures that can be used to determine given health
problem is including X-ray, MRI or CT Scans, Blood tests, bone scan and nerve studies. In
context of John, MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) has been utilise to evaluate about his
problem of lower back pain and its actual cause. NSAIDS (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs) are much effective to manage pain in older people including ibuprofen or naproxen
sodium but it should be used in specific amount because overdose has severe side effects
(Hessler, 2016).
Following the MRI report, and the pain being persistent, which analgesics should be prescribed
to Mr John? Support your answer with evidence.
As per given case study, John has been referred to rheumatologist when he was
complaining about worsening of the pain. The pathological process of magnetic resonance
imaging (MRI) of spine was carried out whose report indicates regarding the metastatic lesions
in thoracic and lumbar vertebrae due which patient is suffering from severe lower back pain.
Following the MRI report, NSAIDS can prescribed as an analgesic to given patient to relief the
pain but it must be very carefully provided in specific amount of dose because overdose has side
effects on human body (Presti, 2016). It consist several medications such as aspirin, ibuprofen
and naproxen in which suitable one can be prescribed for wellness of John.
Antidepressants are also prescribed for given case which are effective to relief the pain. It
includes several medications including amitriptyline, clomipramine, desipramine, doxepin,
imipramine and nortriptyline in which most favourable one can be prescribed to John. Care
professionals should remain careful while providing these medications to improve condition of
patient with avoiding relevant side effects (Choi and et. al., 2016).
Conclusion
The above report has been concluded that effective diagnosing methods should be used
for determining actual cause of lower back pain in given case. It includes MRI, X-ray and CT
Scans to identify issue for provide effective analgesic like NSAIDS or antidepressants.

References
Books and journals
Chan, A. W. K. & et. al., (2016). Case-based web learning versus face-to-face learning: a mixed-
method study on University nursing students. Journal of Nursing Research. 24(1). 31-
40.
Choi, H. & et. al., (2016). Clinical Education In psychiatric mental health nursing: Overcoming
current challenges. Nurse education today. 39. 109-115.
Hessler, K. L. (2016). Nursing education: Flipping the classroom. The Nurse Practitioner. 41(2).
17-27.
Kim, H. R. & et. al., (2016). Effects of team-based learning on problem-solving, knowledge and
clinical performance of Korean nursing students. Nurse education today. 38. 115-118.
Presti, C. R. (2016). The flipped learning approach in nursing education: A literature review.
Journal of Nursing Education. 55(5). 252-257.