Self-Paced Course CNE: Why Does it Hurt? Acute and Chronic Pain in Sickle Cell Disease

Sickle cell disease ( SCD) is a complex hematological disorder which effects every organ in the body. The hallmark of sickle cell disease is the excruciatingly painful vaso-occlusive crisis. Managing pain in SCD patients has always been challenging for all members of the health care team including nurses. This presentation will explore the pathophysiology of pain in SCD patients and the factors- both physical and psychosocial that inform and shape the patient experience of pain. We will review acute pain verses chronic pain syndromes and how they differ in pathophysiology and treatment. This increased understanding of pain in our sickle cell population will lead to improved nursing care and patient outcomes.