Managing Your Pain

Relief of pain is the right of every patient. At Columbia Regional Hospital, we are committed to "Delivering the Difference" in working with you to develop a plan of care to best relieve your pain.

Pain can affect you in many ways. It can keep you from being active, sleeping well, enjoying life, eating, and breathing deeply. It can also make you feel tired, angry, or depressed. The longer pain goes untreated, the harder it is to relieve. When there is less pain, you will feel more active and interested in doing things you enjoy. Pain may be considered acute (sudden start) or chronic (lasting over a long period of time).

Assessing Your Pain

When you are admitted, your nurse will ask you a series of questions about your pain such as the location (where it hurts), intensity (rating your pain on a scale of 0-10), and any words to describe your pain. You will be asked when the pain started and what helps or makes your pain worse. All these questions about rating your pain, identifying the location of pain, and describing your pain will help the staff working with you to properly identify and treat your pain effectively.

Words to Describe Pain:

Aching, Nagging, Stabbing
Burning, Numb, Tender
Exhausting, Penetrating, Tiring
Gnawing, Radiating, Throbbing
Miserable, Sharp, Unbearable

Treating Your Pain

Each person experiences pain differently. How you feel pain can depend on your past experiences with pain, your anxiety level, or the possible uncertainty about what causes the pain. The staff at Columbia Regional Hospital is committed to working with you to find the best pain relief. Treatment often includes the use of medications and other therapies. Medications may be given in pill form, through an IV, shots, or by a patch on your skin.

Your doctors and nurses will inform you of the specific side effects of your pain medication. Not everyone experiences side effects from pain medications, but some of the more common side effects are sleepiness, constipation, nausea and vomiting, dizziness, trouble concentrating, trouble breathing, difficulty in urinating, or rashes. If you have trouble breathing or develop a rash, promptly notify the nursing staff. Medication is available to treat all these symptoms. Addiction from taking medication for pain relief is RARE.

Other forms of pain control include injections done by a physician, such as a nerve block, trigger point injection, epidural steroid injection or steroid injection into a joint. Treatment can also include the use of heat, ice, massage, positioning, relaxation, aromatherapy, biofeedback, acupuncture or acupressure, radiation therapy or other complementary therapies that may relieve your pain.

Important Information

You are the most important person when it comes to managing your pain!
Talk with your nurses and doctor. Ask questions if you don't understand.
Ask for your pain medication before any scheduled events such as physical therapy sessions.
It is better to report and treat pain sooner, rather than waiting until you cannot stand it any longer. Treating pain sooner will result in better pain control.
Don't forget to include vitamins, non-prescription pain medications, and herbs when asked about home medications.
It may not always be possible to totally relieve your pain. However, it can be controlled to an acceptable level of comfort.
Keeping a pain diary at home is a good way for your doctor to evaluate the treatments when you return to the office for your check ups.

Tips to Relieve Pain

Relaxation may help relieve your pain. When you are relaxed, your muscles are not tense and medication will work better.
Changing positions by sitting in a chair and/or walking may decrease pain. A massage by a family member or a therapist may be helpful provided your physician approves.
Pillows for extra support.
Breathing in andout slowly and deeply relaxes muscles. This is especially helpful when getting up out of bed or a chair. Take a breath in and s-l-o-w-l-y release as you get up.
Prayer and meditation are spiritual ways of helping to relieve your pain. Chaplains are available to help you.
Listening to soft music can help you relax. Family may bring personal music and headsets. Additional music cassettes and resources may be available upon request.
Humor may also be helpful. Using humorous books and tapes can be another way to relax. Your nurse can inform you of resource materials available.

Please tell the staff if there are any other methods of managing pain that are helpful to you.

Patients' Bill of Rights

As a patient of Columbia Regional Hospital, you have:

The right to have your report of pain taken seriously and to be treated with dignity and respect by doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals.
The right to have your pain thoroughly assessed and promptly treated.
The right to be informed by your doctor about what may be causing your pain, possible treatments, and the benefits, risks, and costs of each.
The right to participate actively in decisions about how to manage your pain.
The right to have your pain reassessed regularly and your treatment adjusted if your pain has not been eased.
The right to be referred to a pain specialist if your pain persists.
The right to get clear and prompt answers to your questions, take time to make decisions, and refuse a particular type of treatment if you choose.