Dealing With Pain
Nobody likes pain. Whether it's acute pain, like you get when you break your leg, or chronic pain, like you have with a lasting illness, we just want it to go away so we can get on with our lives.
Being in pain can affect nearly every part of your life. As if the pain itself isn't bad enough, it also can cause:
- Sleep problems
- Problems working
- Tiredness
- Negative emotions, such as loneliness, sadness, worry, anger and irritability
- Inability to enjoy simple pleasures
- Lack of involvement in activities you once enjoyed, including social and physical activities
If you're in pain, it's important to talk to your doctor about how to control it. There are medications and other things that can help you feel better. Whatever the source, there's no reason why you shouldn't be able to get help controlling your pain.
Pain Medication
Even though medicines are available to help all kinds of pain, some people are afraid to take them. Some of the mistaken ideas people have about pain management and medicines are that:
- They'll become addicted. People, and even some doctors, worry that drugs used to treat pain are addictive. The truth is that your risk of getting addicted to these drugs is low when you take them properly and under a doctor's care.Reports about addiction to OxyContin, a powerful morphine-like narcotic to relieve moderate to severe chronic pain, is a case in point. Even though the drug can be a safe and effective pain medication when properly prescribed and used as directed, it also is a "drug of abuse," according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA recommends taking your medication only as directed and not increasing or decreasing your dose without talking to your doctor; not breaking or crushing pills; protecting your medication from being stolen; never sharing your medicine with others; and throwing away leftover pills after your doctor takes you off the medicine.
- Taking morphine means the end is near. The amount and type of medicine you take depends on the level of pain you report to your doctor. Doctors prescribe the mildest medication you need and will recommend stronger medications, such as morphine, only when necessary . Taking morphine does not mean death is near. It merely means that your pain level requires something stronger to help you feel less pain. Morphine will not shorten your life.
- Pain is part of life. Many times people resist telling the doctor about their pain because they feel it is just part of the illness that they must live with. This prevents many people from getting pain relief through proper pain management. That results in needless suffering.
Talking to Your Doctor
Even though many studies have shown that most people resist talking to their doctors about pain, it's the most important step you can take to get relief. Tell your doctor:
- Where it hurts
- When the pain started
- What you have been doing to deal with the pain, such as taking aspirin or practicing relaxation techniques
- If the pain is constant or it comes and goes
- If anything makes the pain go away or makes it worse
- How the pain affects your daily life
Also be sure to ask your doctor these important questions about taking medication for your pain, so you'll know what to expect on a daily basis:
- What types of medication can I take for my pain?
- What are the side effects of each drug? How long will they
last?
- How should I take this medication?
- How long should I take this medication?
- Could this medication interact with any other drugs (or
vitamins or supplements) I'm taking?
- Are there things I should avoid eating, drinking, or doing
while taking this medicine?
- Should I try alternative medicine, like acupuncture or
massage?
- What should I do if the pain gets worse? Should I call
you?
- How much does the drug cost? Can I take a generic version instead?
Rating Your Level of Pain
One good way to tell the doctor how much pain you are in is to rate the pain on a scale of zero (no pain) to 10 (worst pain). This system lets your doctor and you track pain to see which treatments work and which don't.
There also are other ways to evaluate your pain. For instance, ZAP (Zero Acceptance of Pain) is a cancer pain assessment program developed by the Association of Cancer Online Resources. If your pain does not get better with medication, ask your doctor about seeing a pain specialist or pain clinic in your area.
Other Pain Management Tools
Besides medication, there are other things you can do to try to manage your pain. People in pain might find themselves battling not only pain, but fear, anxiety, and depression too. Anxiety and stress can lower your tolerance to pain. These activities can help reduce your stress and pain levels:
- Getting regular physical activity
- Joining a support group
- Going for counseling
- Practicing relaxation techniques
o Meditation: relaxing both mind and body through quiet reflection such as prayer, yoga, or deep breathing
o Muscle Relaxation: releasing tension from muscles by practicing a series of quiet movements that involve tensing and relaxing muscle groups
o Massage: moving muscles and soft body tissues to relieve stress, tension, and pain
o Guided Imagery: refocusing your attention and redirecting your mind and feelings away from your actual situation by imagining yourself somewhere else, usually a peaceful, beautiful setting
o Hypnosis: developing a trancelike state of deep relaxation in which your mind stays restfully alert and open to suggestion. This therapy can distract you from pain or alter your perception of it.
Pain Management Standards
Helping patients properly manage their pain is important to every doctor and health professional. Hospitals and other health facilities are equally concerned that patients don't suffer pain needlessly.
In 2001, the commission that accredits hospitals and other health care facilities introduced new pain standards that require all health facilities to have a system to effectively measure and manage pain.
Managing your pain takes patience and perseverance. Don't give up. People who actively take charge of trying to control and manage their pain feel better than those who don't.
AARP Resources
Your Aching Back
Backaches are second only to headaches as the most common
source of pain.
Checklist: 11 Ways to Ensure Proper Pain Management
Find out what you can do to get the pain relief you need.
How to Talk to Your Doctor
Get advice on how to communicate better with your doctor.
Additional Resources
American Pain
Foundation
Find more information on pain, including articles, at the Pain
Information Center, as well as a Pain Action Guide and Pain
Care Bill of Rights.
American Pain
Society
Publications, including patient care guidelines, on managing
pain. .
Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare
Organizations
JCAHO explains pain management standards for hospitals and
other health care settings.
Books
Find this book online at Barnes & Noble.com.
"Managing Pain Before It Manages You, Revised Edition" , Margaret A. Caudill, Guilford Publications, Inc., November 2001
"War on Pain: How Breakthroughs In The New Field Of Pain Medicine Are Turning The Tide Against Suffering" , Scott Fishman, With Lisa Berger, HarperCollins Publishers, February 2001
