Patient Safety at CMH
Managing Pain
- Pain can change over time or your pain medicine in certain situations may not work. As a result, nurses and doctors should regularly ask about your pain.
- Generally nurses and doctors ask you to rate your pain on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the worst. If you cannot sleep because of pain or perform everyday activities (dressing yourself, climbing stairs, etc), let your caregivers know. Pain is often described in a variety of ways including:
- Aching
- Bloating
- Burning
- Cramping
- Comes and goes
- Constant
- Cutting
- Dull
- Numbing
- Pressing
- Pressure
- Pulling
- Radiating
- Searing
- Sharp
- Shooting
- Soreness
- Stabbing
- Throbbing
- Pain can be relieved with a variety of drugs including acetaminophen, aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, and opioids (morphine, oxycodone, and hydromorphone). In addition, acupuncture, electrical nerve stimulation, physical therapy, massage, heat, or cold can relieve pain.
- Pain medications can have side effects including constipation, nausea, vomiting, itching, and sleepiness. If you have a bad experience, call your doctor or nurse as soon as possible.
- If you are concerned about becoming addicted to pain medication, talk to your nurse or doctor. Studies have shown that addiction is unlikely.
- After a while your body may develop a tolerance to some pain medications. If you find your pain medication to no longer be effective, talk to your doctor or nurse. You may need a higher dosage or a different kind.
Source: The Joint Commission
