In assessing four clients for pain tolerance in the emergency department, which patient best demonstrates the ability to tolerate chronic pain?

• A. A 55-year-old woman who has had moderate low back pain for three months
• B. A 25-year-old with acute pain for two hours
• C. A 70-year-old with no pain
• D. A 40-year-old with severe anxiety

Answer: (A)

Pain tolerance is how long a person can endure pain and still cope without seeking immediate relief. When someone has been living with pain for an extended period, they often develop coping strategies and a level of adaptation to that ongoing discomfort. The patient who has had moderate low back pain for three months demonstrates this gradual, sustained endurance to chronic pain. In contrast, someone with acute pain is dealing with a new or short-term sensation, the person with no pain isn’t experiencing pain to tolerate, and severe anxiety can heighten the perceived intensity of pain rather than reflect true tolerance.