How to Get the Pain Management You Deserve
Pain is now considered the "fifth vital sign" for all patients. In other words pain is as important as your temprature, blood pressure, and the other standard parameters routinely checked in a medical office or hospital. However, many clinicans still lack pain manamgent skills, knowlegde, and savvy. This article will help empower you to understand pain, your RIGHT to treatment, and how to get the best relief possible for your condition.
Instructions
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Let the nurse or doctor know that you are in pain. Describe when the pain started, rate the intensity of the pain (1- pain free to 10- severe pain). Inform the clinician about the nature of your pain; is it constant? throbbing? stabbing? caused by certain activities? reduced by certain activities. Finally, sincerely express how the pain is impacting your life at home, socially and at work. Do not be afraid to speak up but be clear, honest, precise, and level headed about your concerns.
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Be certain the clinician examines your pain. Most of what patients tell clinicians is the underpinning of the exam. However, make sure you get any necessary testing done such as x-ray, CAT scan, physical examination of the painful area(s).
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Ask the doctor or nurse to explain you pain treatment options. Pain is generally rated by it's severity and impact on life. Many organizations such as the World Health Organization, the American Medical Association, and the American Association of Pain Management have developed clinical guidelines and EVIDENCE BASED recommendations for the treatment of your pain. Simply put treating pain is based on science, research and clinical studies. It is not a matter of "throwing darts at a problem and seeing what works." Pain management is good medical practice.
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Ask about the different types of pain control available to you. You may require "around-the-clock" (ATC) pain medication for long term or chronic conditions such a back pain, cancer pain, or pain from any other chronic disease (HIV/AIDS, osteoporosis, etc.)
Your pain may only need intermittent as necessary pain treatment which is refereed to as PRN (translation: as needed) pain control. Some examples of conditions that might fit under the PRN label are a broken arm, twisted ankle, migraine headache and such.
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Inquire about the medication side effects such as drowsiness, constipation or the inability to drive or work. Never drink alcohol while on any pain management program.
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Have the clinician review the "pain contract" with you. A pain contract, used especially for long term pain management that require narcotics, clearly spells out the clinician' s expectations of how you will treat your pain with their guidance, your responsibilities to take control of your pain medications, and what to do if the pain management is not working. Most clinics will make certain you sign a copy of their pain contract and provide you a copy of it for your records.
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Pain should be assessed frequently by your health care provider. It is important to remember that YOUR report of pain is critical to their assessment.
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Pain management is a right and a component of good clinical medicine. It is not a "luxury" or something that is "nice to do." Also, if your pain is well controlled you will heal faster, feel better, and be able to participate in your own care and gat back to your usual daily activities.
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Tips & Warnings
All patients have the right to adequate pain management.
Patients should not hesitate to ask to have their pain controlled and be informed of the types medications that are going to be used and why.
You should also ask and determine what you can expect from the your pain management plan as to when the pain will be controlled, how long the relief may last, and any possible side effects.
