Managing your pain is an important part of your care here at the Hospital of Saint Raphael. Working with your nurses and doctors to relieve or prevent pain is a vital piece of successful pain management. Pain control can help you:
- Enjoy greatercomfort while you heal
- Rest, exercise andsleep better
- Have less anxiety
- Get wellfaster
Here are some common questions and answers about pain management:
What can you do to get good pain relief?
- Ask your doctor ornurse what to expect – being prepared helps put you in control
- List pain medicinesyou have taken in the past and how well they have worked for you
- Always tell yourdoctor or nurse if you are allergic to any pain medicines
- Share concerns youmay have about pain medication
- Talk to you doctorsand nurses about your pain. They cannot always tell when you are having pain. Therefore, it is important to let your doctors and nurses know when you are in pain
- Point to where yourpain is located
- Describe how thepain feels: aching, throbbing, burning, etc…
- Rate your pain on ascale of 0-10, with 0 meaning no pain and 10, the worst pain you could imagine.
- If easier, thefaces pain rating scale can be used
What level of pain is acceptable to you? You may feel some pain, but our goal is to reduce it to a level that won’t interfere with your activities. You will be asked to state the pain level at which you believe you will be able to perform these activities. What if my pain does not go away? Your nurses and doctors want and need to know about your pain. If current medications are not helping, different ones can be ordered. Are there side effects to pain medicines? All medicines have side effects, but not all people get them. Most side effects happen in the first few hours of treatment and slowly go away. These might include nausea and vomiting, sleepiness and constipation. Your doctors and nurses can give you medicines to prevent or treat these side effects. Will I become “hooked” on the pain medicine? Research shows that most people do not become “hooked” or addicted to pain medicines when used as directed by their doctor. Talk to your doctor or nurse if you have a history of drug addiction or if you are concerned about taking your pain medicines for any reason. Are their other ways to relieve pain? Many people find that cold packs, heat application, and massage help reduce pain. Music or television may distract you from the pain. Guided imagery and other relaxation exercises can be helpful. Let your caregiver know if you have used any of these therapies and if they were helpful. These are some of the most commonly asked questions about pain. Remember, the doctors, nurses and other staff members at The Hospital of Saint Raphael want to make your hospital stay as pain free as they can. We are committed to effectively assessing and managing your pain. You are the key to getting the best pain relief possible so please work with us. Please contact your personal physician to discuss which pain management option will work best for you.