Pain Management

What You Can Do About Your Pain
Taking Control of Pain

People thought that pain was something they had to endure. With current treatments, this is no longer true. Pain interferes with your ability to move around, rest, sleep and eat. Pain is easier to control when it is mild. Managing your pain is important for your recovery and well being.

At Saint Joseph Mercy Health System, health care providers are committed to pain management. You will be given information about pain and pain control as part of your treatment.

Patient Rights

As a patient, you can expect that:

you will be asked about your pain regularly
your caregiver will respond quickly to reports of pain
your pain management plan will be effective

Reporting Pain or Discomfort

Your health care providers will ask you to rate your pain using a pain scale.

Assessing Pain

You will be asked to rate your pain before and after taking pain medication. Your ratings tell how well your pain relief plan is working.

To understand more about your pain, caregivers may ask:

Do you hurt or are you uncomfortable now?
After medication, how quickly does pain come back?
What is your pain rating?
Where does it hurt?
Describe the pain (dull, aching, stabbing, shooting, burning, throbbing, tingling, cramping).
How long have you been hurting?
When do you hurt (all the time or does it come and go)?
What makes the pain better or worse (movement, pressure, coughing)?
Does the pain affect your sleep, appetite, emotions, activity, relationships and concentration?
What are you doing to relieve the pain now?
How well is this working?
What is your goal for managing your pain?

What Can be Done to Manage Pain

There are different types of pain medications that your doctor may prescribe. You might need only one type of medication to control your pain or a combination. Take pain medication regularly and before the pain increases.

Oral pain medications (tablets, capsules, liquids) are often used to treat pain. They are convenient and easy to take.

IV or intravenous medication is given directly into your vein by a nurse or doctor. IV medication works within minutes and can control even severe pain.

PCA (Patient Controlled Analgesia) allows you to push a button and get your pain medication through your IV. The PCA pump has a safety feature that allows only a certain amount of medication to be given.

Epidural pain medication is given through a tiny tube in your back. Pain medication can be given continuously, or controlled as you need it. Usually an epidural is used after surgery for a few days. When your epidural is removed, you will be given oral medication or another type to control your pain.

Side Effects of Pain Medication

Prescription pain medication, when used as directed, is rarely addictive. Some of the side effects are constipation, nausea and drowsiness. The side effects can be easily managed. Taking the pain medication with some food will help prevent nausea. Mild laxatives can be used to prevent constipation.

Pain medication can make you drowsy at first. This often goes away after the first few doses. Check with your doctor if your drowsiness lasts more than a few days.

Talk with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist about other side effects. Make a plan before taking pain medication. Contact your doctor or nurse immediately if you are having an increase in pain that is not relieved by taking your medication.

Please remember, pain is easier to control when it is mild. Waiting too long to take your medication can make it much harder to control your pain. Take your medication when you first start to feel uncomfortable.

Additional Methods of Pain Control

There are other methods you can use to make yourself more comfortable when you are having pain.

Change position.
Breathe deeply and slowly.
Listen to your favorite music.
Apply heat or ice, whichever is more helpful.
Meditate or use spiritual support.
Try talking with a friend.
Keep active.
Do something to take your mind off the pain.

How You Can Help

As a patient, we encourage you to talk with your doctors, nurses and caregivers about:

expectations about pain
ways to report pain
options for pain relief
plans for pain management
requests for pain medication when pain first begins
schedules for taking pain medication
next steps if your pain is not relieved

Discuss any worries you have about taking pain medication with your health care providers. Talk about your beliefs about pain. This will help develop a better pain management plan for you.

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