Questions and Answers

Communication is critical when you’re experiencing pain. A good pain description requires creative words to truly convey the intensity. Doctors use your description as a reference point for the right pain management treatment. Regardless of your prognosis, each patient deserves as much pain control as necessary to remain comfortable. When you experience pain, pay attention […] Read More

Cancer is a widespread disease that can affect nearly any part of the body. You might know people who seem perfectly healthy, but they’re currently fighting a cancer diagnosis. These individuals may be in mild, moderate, or severe pain because cancer affects everyone differently. A tumor might grow large and press against organs, for example. […] Read More

You might notice at times that you are in more pain than usual (such as at the end of a tiring day or as a result of certain activities). If you notice that certain activities contribute to your pain or that you feel worse at certain times of the day, medication can be taken prior […] Read More

People develop pain for many reasons. Pain from recent surgery, injury, or medical illness is called acute pain. In many cases, this pain can be managed immediately and will usually get better soon. For more serious pain, however, your primary care doctor may ask a pain management doctor to help manage your pain while you […] Read More

Make notes in your journal on what you’ve tried to relieve the pain (rest, ice, heat, over-the-counter pain medicine). Did they ease the pain, have no effect, or make it more intense? With a good description of your pain, your doctor will have a better chance of getting you the relief you need. Read More

Try keeping a journal to help you track when in the day your pain is at its worst. The timing of pain can help your doctor fine-tune your treatment. Read More

Tell your doctor which activities you’ve had to adjust, and which ones you now avoid entirely because of your pain.  Just as important as the level of pain you feel is the impact it has on your life.  Examples of life changes:  • Skipping a morning jog because of the pain; • Missing work; • […] Read More

Explain the intensity of your pain to your doctor. That’s where the pain scale comes in. Your doctor will ask you to “rate” your pain on a scale of 0 to 10 – where 0 is pain-free and 10 is unimaginable pain. The doctor can use the score to help determine the amount and type […] Read More

Describe exactly where it hurts. Also, tell your doctor if the pain is changing or not. Here are some examples:  • Deep in your shoulder joint or in the muscles near the surface. • Under the kneecap or in the back of the knee. • The outside of your hip or in your groin.  • […] Read More

Be as specific as possible about how your pain feels to help your doctor figure out what’s wrong.  Here are a few words you can use to describe the way your pain feels, and how your doctor might interpret them: • Aching, dull: muscle strains, arthritis pain; • Shooting, electric, tingling, burning, pins-and-needles: nerve pain; […] Read More