Guidelines for Managing Your Pain
Good pain management improves quality of life. It is important that the treatment of pain be individualized to each person according to their diagnosis, stage of disease, response to pain and treatments, and personal likes and dislikes. However, there are some general guidelines that can help anyone to better manage their pain more effectively.
Use pain medicines as prescribed
If the prescription says to take the medicine at certain times or at certain time intervals (for example, every six hours), make sure this is done. Do not wait until the pain comes back to take the medicine. This will cause needless suffering.
One of the important ways that pain medicine works is that it helps to prevent episodes of severe pain. In order to do this, there has to be a certain amount of medicine in the blood. This is why the doctor prescribes taking the medicine at regular intervals - to be sure that the amount in the blood level stays high enough.
Insist on good pain control
Let your physician know if your pain treatment is not working and ask about pain clinics. If your doctor cannot control the pain, ask for a referral to a pain clinic that has a team of people (doctors, nurses, physical and occupational therapists, psychologists) that specialize in pain treatment. Universities and large hospitals often have these types of clinics.
Help to reduce pain
Use warm showers, baths, hot water bottles, or warm washcloths. Heat relaxes muscles; this can help reduce pain and give a sense of comfort. Do not set heating pads on high because they can burn the skin. Also, try massaging sore spots, such as neck and shoulders. Check with your doctor about how long to apply heat since prolonged exposure to heat can cause tissue damage.
Use cool cloths
Cooling the skin and muscles can soothe pain, especially pain that comes from inflammation or swelling. For example, many people find that using a cool washcloth on their forehead reduces pain when they have a headache. Check with your doctor about how long to apply cold since prolonged exposure to cold can cause tissue damage.
Encourage relaxation
Position yourself carefully with pillows and soft seat cushions. Breathing slowly and quietly helps the mind and body to relax and helps decrease pain. Simple relaxation methods can be learned from books on relaxation techniques which are available at most bookstores. Relaxation audiotapes can also be purchased through most bookstores.
Try enjoyable activities
Being active takes the mind off the pain. Distractions such as pleasant visits with friends and loved ones should be encouraged. Watching television, reading, and listening to music may also decrease a person's awareness of pain.
Avoid stressful events when possible. Emotional stress and anxiety increase pain.
Ask for help
Ask for help even if it may be difficult for you to ask for help. Chances are your family and friends have asked you what they can do to help you. Perhaps you didn't know what to say or you felt guilty admitting you needed help. Or they may have decided to help in ways that irritate you. So when people ask you how they can help, tell them. You need family and friends to help you manage your pain and move on with your life. But they can help you only if you help them understand what your needs are and how they can be met.
It is important to speak up and tell your doctor and others about your pain. Some people decide to live with some pain for personal, cultural, spiritual or other reasons. You have a right to have your wishes respected. Whatever your beliefs are; you have a right to have your wishes honored.
Most healthcare providers will ask you to rate your current pain level on a scale of 0-10, where 0 is no pain and 10 is the worst pain imaginable. They may also ask what your pain goal is, again on a scale of 0-10. Tell your physician if your goal is to get rid of all your pain, or if you can/choose to bear some pain. Be sure that your physician and family/friend caregivers are very clear about your pain goal.
If your goal is to have as little pain as possible and yet you are still experiencing pain, be sure to let your caregivers know so that they can continue to work to manage your pain.
References for content:
© 1998-2005 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER).
©1999-2002 The AGS Foundation for Health in Aging. All Rights Reserved.
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