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Understanding Healthcare
Describing and Rating Your Pain
Describing and Rating Your PainAnyone who’s had surgery or suffered a trauma that landed them in the emergency room, knows about pain. Andthe need to manage that pain, to get it under control, is critical to healing.In the hospital, patients are encouraged to get out of bed, to walk, before they can be sent home. Walking also helpsprevent blood clots and pneumonia. Once home, that healing may continue with physical or occupational therapy,rest and time, but those won’t be very effective if you’re in extreme pain.“Working with the doctor on pain management was key.”-David, PatientDavid Toy recently had a knee replacement followed soon after by elbow surgery. Both times his medical team hada plan to get him moving again even back on the golf course with pain medication, ice and therapy.“I think that’s part of the program with pain management, it’s that follow up. Their staff making sure thatyou’re not going through any kind of painful episode during your recovery.”-David, PatientYour healthcare team should follow up with you, too. By regularly asking you to describe and rate your pain, theycan make adjustments to get you back on your feet faster.“The most popular pain scale is the one to 10 scale, 10 being the most unbearable, you know, intense painyou’ve ever experienced and 1 being very minimal dull pain.”-Dr. Julie Freed, MD, AnesthesiologistYou should also describe where you are hurting. Is the pain dull, sharp or deep? Has it interfered with sleeping,exercising, work or social activities?“Some people can have surgery and not need much pain control at all. Maybe that’s because their makeup issort of stoic and hey tough, or what have you, and others may just be very, very emotional like ‘oh, my God, thisis a catastrophe.”-Dr. Michael Miller, Addiction Medicine Physician“Over time you could just see the progression, the progress that the pain was starting to lower.”-David, PatientYour healthcare team will also be watching to make sure your pain is getting better as you heal that it’s not turninginto a long-term, chronic condition. Also, if you’re taking opioids to manage the pain, they’ll watch you carefully tomake sure you’re not becoming dependent. It’s important to be honest about how you are actually feeling.Page 1 of 2This program is for informational purposes only. Publisher disclaims all guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness,or suitability of this video for medical decision making. For all health related issues please contact your healthcare provider.PRG5321098 EN DescribingAndRatingYourPain.pdf© The Wellness NetworkDescribing and Rating Your Pain“If your pain is a three and you tell us it's an eight and you overrate it, that could also lead to overmedicationand other possible problems, such as addiction.”- Dr. Julie Freed, MD, AnesthesiologistThe risk of addiction is very low when opioids are given for a short time to relieve acute pain. However, otherside effects to be aware of include extreme tiredness or low blood pressure, trouble breathing, nausea,confusion, itching or hives, or constipation.There is no test for pain, so your doctors and nurses are counting on you to rate your pain. That’s the only waythey can properly treat it.“I was very grateful that they were constantly checking in on me and making sure that I was recovering theway I should be.”-David, PatientPage 2 of 2This program is for informational purposes only. Publisher disclaims all guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness,or suitability of this video for medical decision making. For all health related issues please contact your healthcare provider.PRG5321098 EN DescribingAndRatingYourPain.pdf© The Wellness Network
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