Your Stay at GVH
A Patient's Guide to Pain Control
Pain is a hurtful feeling. It tells you something may be wrong. The message of pain begins in tiny nerve cells. It travels through nerves to your spinal cord and then your brain. Pain differs in strength. It is not good whether it occurs in a wound or anywhere else in your body. Pain medicine helps you feel better and heal faster.
Types of Pain Medicine
Intravenous pain medicine comes into the body through a tube often in your arm. This medicine provides fast relief.You may feel better within 15 minutes.
Patient Controlled Analgesia (PCA) uses a computerized pump to send pain medicine directly into your blood. When you feel you need more pain relief, you can give it to yourself by pressing a button or switch. The pump does not let you get too much. Relief is usually steady.Your nurse or doctor can change the dose if it is not strong enough.
You get Epidural pain medicine through a small tube (catheter) that goes into your back. It is typically used when you have surgery on the lower part of your body. Usually, relief is constant.
You get Oral pain medicine by swallowing tablets or liquid. Oral medicine is used when other medicine is no longer needed (24-48 hours after surgery). It can also be used before physical therapy or a medical procedure that might cause pain.You usually feel better within 30-45 minutes.
Your Concerns about Pain Medicine
Most people do not become hooked on pain medicine. Your doctors and nurses will work with you on a pain control plan. Let your doctors and nurses know right away when you begin to feel pain.Do not wait to ask for medicine.
What to Expect When You Take Pain Medicine
You may have side effects from pain medicine. Pain medicine can make you feel sick to your stomach, dizzy, itchy, confused or sleepy.You might have a dry mouth, constipation or diarrhea.Your doctors and nurses will tell you about side effects and how to treat them.
Help for Your Pain
Your nurses and doctors need to know about your pain.You are not bothering them. If you have pain, they will change your medicine or the amount to help you feel better.
Keeping Pain in Control
- Take pain relief medicine when pain first begins. It is harder to make pain hurt less once you have it.
- If you know that your pain will get worse, take medicine first.
- Try breathing and relaxation exercises to make pain control medicine work better.
- Let your nurses and doctors know if your pain control plan is working.
Breathing and Relaxation Exercises
Breathe in slowly and deeply saying, “In, two, three.” Breathe out saying, “Out, two, three.” While doing this, picture a peaceful place. Repeat. Think about it for as long as 20 minutes. End with a slow deep breath.
Measuring Pain on the Pain Rating Scale
Use the scale below to tell your doctors and nurseshow strong your pain is. Set your own pain control goals.You might want no pain (0). Or, you might be willing to have a little pain (1 or 2). Choose the number that most closely matches your pain using the 0 to 10 scale below. (0 = No Pain 10 = Terrible)
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