Patients about to go home from the hospital are often worried about how they will deal with pain. If they've been getting medication from nurses and doctors to relieve pain, they often wonder, "Who will give me the medicine at home?" "What if I run out of medicine?" "Suppose I need an injection?" "What if I'm alone and the pain gets worse?"
The important point to remember is that most pain can be relieved. There are many medications available and one or more of them will certainly help. (For detailed information, see Controlling Pain .)
Also remember that pain is a complex experience that is not only physical. Psychological and emotional factors play a major role in anyone's response to pain. Chronic pain that is relieved for a while and then returns can be very tiring. That fatigue in turn can make the pain worse. Acute or sudden pain can set off anxieties and fears.
The key to overcoming pain is to feel that you are the expert and you can do something about it. Having control over pain helps you relax. Relaxation means less anxiety, and less anxiety means less pain.
Keeping Track of Your Pain The first step in your gaining control over pain will be taken in the hospital when your doctor recommends the type and frequency of medication. You and/or your family should then keep a record of how the medication affects you.
Monitor where the pain is, what it feels like—sharp, dull, intermittent or stabbing—how long it takes the medication to start working, how long the relief lasts and whether there are any side effects. All this information
