Information for Pain Suffers
Q: Definition of pain?
A: Varied unpleasant sensations that can range from discomfort to agony and
can be short lived or constant
Q: Who manages pain?
A: Your primary physician or the physician who is treating the problem, which
causes the pain, will manage your pain with the help of consulting physicians, nurses
and other health care professionals. In order to live pain free, the physician needs
to know why you have pain, and have detailed description of the pain. As a patient
your active participation is necessary for effective pain management.
Q: Talking with your physician about your pain?
A: The more information your doctor has about your discomfort or pain, the
better he/she will be able to treat it. Be prepared when talking with you physician.
Obtain copies of all tests, reports from other physicians. Do not hide other visits
with other physicians, hospitals or urgent care centers. Bring all your medications
with you and if you are taking more or less of the medications than order be honest
with your physician. If you are taking medication from a friend or family member,
using herbs, vitamins or minerals, or over-the-counter medications. Be honest about
alcohol and/or street drug use. Report past surgeries, injections or blocks that
were related to your pain and describe whether they worked or didn’t work. Include
all non-drug treatments you have tried and how they have worked. The kinds of information
he needs are:
- Where is the pain?
- How long have you had it?
- How does it vary?
- What does it feel like? Describe it.
- How intense does it get? Can you rate it?
- What make the pain worse or better?
- What medications are you taking and how often
- Are you getting relief from the medications?
Most importantly, he needs to know if the pain management is not working! You should
see improvement within hours to 2 days of a medication change, depending on the
schedule and type of medications you are taking. If you are following the directions
and you are not satisfied with the relief of pain you need to call your physician
to get further direction.
Q: Pain Management?
A: Pain management is a medical specialty that deals with the evaluation and treatment
of people with acute or chronic pain. Acute pain usually follows surgery or injury
and resolves itself as the body heals itself. Chronic pain is pain that persist
after healing has taken place. Cancer and certain degenerative diseases such as
arthritis can also cause chronic pain.
Q: Pain Care Bill of Rights?
A: As a person with pain, you have the right to:
- Have your report of pain taken seriously and to be treated with dignity and respect
by doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals
- Have your pain thoroughly assessed and promptly treated
- Be informed by your healthcare provider about what may be causing your pain, possible
treatments, and the benefits, risks and costs of each.
- Participate actively in decisions about how to manage your pain
- Have your pain reassessed regularly and your treatment adjusted if your pain has
not been eased
- Be referred to a pain specialist if your pain persists
- Get clear and prompt answers to your questions, take time to make decisions, and
refuse a particular type of treatment if you choose
Although not always required by law, these are rights you should expect and if necessary
demand for your pain care.
American Pain Foundation
Q: Do I need to worry about addiction?
A: Addiction is a common fear of people who take narcotics for pain but it is very
rate.. Addiction is a dependence on the use of narcotics for the side effectors
of the medication, not for the pain relief it provides. When narcotics are taken
for long periods of time, people do build up a tolerance to the medication, which
sometimes requires an increase in dose in order to get the same pain relief, but
this is drug tolerance, not drug addiction.
Q:Non-Drug Treatments for Pain?
A: Please contact your local healthcare provider to get detailed information about
the following pain relief modalities:
- Relaxation Techniques—using breathing and relaxation of muscle groups to promote
comfort
- Biofeedback—controlling heart rate, blood pressure and tension to cope with pain.
Usually used with other treatments
- Imagery—imagining a scene that provides pleasure and serenity
- Distraction-focusing your attending on another activity that takes your attention
away from your discomfort
- Hypnosis—can be used to change the awareness of pain
- Skin Stimulation—the use of pressure or temperature to alter the sensation of pain
- Massage—stroking or kneading of soft tissue and muscle to relieve pain
- TENS—Transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation—the application of a mild electrical
current to the area of pain that interferes with pain sensation
- Acupuncture—the insertion of thin needles into the body in areas that control pain
- Physical Therapy—treatment and exercise that can relieve pain and restore function
to painful areas
- Counseling—emotional support that can decrease the stress and anxiety that increased
pain
- Nerve Blocks-injections into nerves, nerve roots or spinal cord to block pain
Q:Using the Internet
A: There is a much pain-related information available for patient—on the internet,
in books and journals or brochures. Follow this link to a guide that may help you review the quality
of health-related websites.