Don't Ignore Pain

Only you know how much pain you’re in. Tell your doctor or nurse when you feel pain or if it comes back after it goes away. Talk about your pain level throughout your stay. Not all pain can be completely relieved; however, through communication with your health care team, an acceptable level of pain can be achieved.

Ask Yourself, Then Share With Your Nurse:

• Where does it hurt?
  
• When does it hurt?
• What makes it feel better or worse?
  
• Does it keep you from doing things like sleeping, dressing or eating?
  

What Does Your Pain Feel Like?

Sometimes it’s easier to describe your pain by comparing it to another feeling. It’s OK to use your imagination. Some examples include:
 

• Does it feel like something is burning, stabbing, pinching or pressing on you?
  
• How does it compare to other pain you’ve felt?
• Is it like a paper cut, broken bone or passing a kidney stone? Does it feel better or worse?
• Does your stomach feel like it’s tied in knots?
• Do your limbs feel like lead?
• Does the pain make it hard to perform normal tasks?

You also can use these words to describe your pain: aching, bloating, pulling, constant, numbing, sharp and searing.

How Bad Is It on This Pain Scale?