Pain Management All guests have a right to pain relief. At Evans Memorial Hospital you can expect: • Information about pain and pain relief measures, • A concerned staff committed to pain prevention and management, • Health professionals who respond quickly to reports of pain, and • Effective pain management. As a guest at this facility, we expect that you will • Ask your caregiver what to expect regarding pain and pain management, • Discuss pain relief options with your caregiver, • Work with your caregiver to develop a pain management plan, • Ask for pain relief when pain first begins, • Help your caregiver assess your pain, • Tell your caregiver if your pain is not relieved, and • Tell your caregiver about any worries you may have about taking pain medication. How long will your pain medication be needed? Many patients only need pain medicine for a short amount of time until the cause of their pain goes away. Some patients with longterm illnesses, such as cancer or arthritis, will have to take medicine for longer periods of time. Safe Practices It is important for patients to take pain medication safely. • Know how and when to take medicine. • Know side effects and what to do about them. Sometimes a change in the medication or the dose is needed to stop unwanted side effects. • STOP TAKING your medication if you notice a rash or have any trouble breathing, and tell your doctor and/or nurse right away. Timing When taking pain medication, it is best not to wait until the pain is very bad. If you do, it may take longer for your medication to provide pain relief and may also require a larger dose. Taking pain medication thirty (30) minutes before an activity that may cause discomfort may be helpful; ask your doctor or nurse. 17
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