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Before you take ANY medication, NO MATTER HOW SAFE YOUR
DOCTOR SAYS IT IS, do your own personal research online.Doctors get
paid BIG bonuses by the drug companies for prescribing their
drugs.
There are NO drugs that are perfectly safe. Even
something most people consider safe - Aspirin - is involved in the
deaths 120,000 people a year in the United States. Our parents and
grandparents could only get aspirin as a prescription
drug.
Jays new drug (and drugs you may now be taking) all have well
known side effects. Cymbalta has a strong warning that when you start
to take it or change the dose, up or down or stop taking it, there
is a serious risk of severe depression leading to suicide.
Below is the first page from a Google
search, looking under Cynbalta and Suicide. The results show there are
25,700 web sites that discuss suicide from taking
Cymbalta.
Here is part of the first page from Eli
Lilly - the company that makes Prozac and Cymbalta. This is from the
top of the first page of their warnings about Cymbalta and
suicide.
If you are going to have anything
meaningful to do with reducing your pain, you have to educate
yourself. It took me less than 15 seconds searching to find out that
this drug has a serious risk of causing depression and
suicide. LEARN
HOW to use your computers for
searching about pain and drugs andthen check out the drugs you are
taking. Look for forums where other people taking the same drug talk
about their side effects and perhaps gives you links to other sources.
Share the doses of drug you take with us so we know if we are being
told to take a lot or not much at all. It all helps.
Below is a very good summary of what you
need to know to talk intelligently with your doctor about your
pain. I picked it up from a drug information web
site.
CHRONIC PAIN
MANAGEMENT
What is chronic pain? Chronic (long-term) pain is pain that lasts 3 to 6 months or longer. Usually, pain is your body's way of reacting to an injury or illness. Pain warns your body that something is wrong. But with chronic pain, caregivers may have trouble finding an exact reason for your pain. This makes chronic pain difficult for both you and caregivers to understand. There are also many types of chronic pain. Everyone reacts to chronic pain in different ways. What you think is painful may not be painful to someone else. But, always remember your pain is whatever you say it is!
What causes chronic pain? Chronic pain can be caused by many things like an old injury or chronic illness. Chronic illnesses are ones that have no cure and may get worse over time, such as multiple sclerosis. Moving a body part over and over in the same way can also cause chronic pain. Often, chronic pain is caused by more than 1 problem. This makes it even harder to treat. And sometimes, there is no clear cause for chronic pain. At lest 75 to 80 million people in the United States are believed to suffer chronic pain.
* Chronic pain often falls into two groups. The first group of people have ongoing tissue damage like what happens with cancer, arthritis, or chronic diseases. Even typing at a keyboard in a bad position over time can cause damage and chronic pain.
* The second group has no "new" tissue damage. This kind of chronic pain can happen from an old back injury that never goes away. Or, it may develop all of the sudden with no clear reason. With chronic pain, you may not want to move the painful part of your body at all. But, you may also have pain because you are not moving this body part.
What is your chronic pain like? Caregivers want you to talk to them about your chronic pain. The more you can tell them about it the better. This may help them understand what causes it and how to treat it.
* Keep a pain diary-
Sometimes it may be easier to answer caregiver's questions by making a pain diary or book. A pain diary or journal will help you remember exactly what happened each day because it is all written down. A diary also helps track pain cycles. This will help you be more aware of when pain is bad and how to make it better. A diary answers caregiver's questions about your pain over time.
What is chronic pain? Chronic (long-term) pain is pain that lasts 3 to 6 months or longer. Usually, pain is your body's way of reacting to an injury or illness. Pain warns your body that something is wrong. But with chronic pain, caregivers may have trouble finding an exact reason for your pain. This makes chronic pain difficult for both you and caregivers to understand. There are also many types of chronic pain. Everyone reacts to chronic pain in different ways. What you think is painful may not be painful to someone else. But, always remember your pain is whatever you say it is!
What causes chronic pain? Chronic pain can be caused by many things like an old injury or chronic illness. Chronic illnesses are ones that have no cure and may get worse over time, such as multiple sclerosis. Moving a body part over and over in the same way can also cause chronic pain. Often, chronic pain is caused by more than 1 problem. This makes it even harder to treat. And sometimes, there is no clear cause for chronic pain. At lest 75 to 80 million people in the United States are believed to suffer chronic pain.
* Chronic pain often falls into two groups. The first group of people have ongoing tissue damage like what happens with cancer, arthritis, or chronic diseases. Even typing at a keyboard in a bad position over time can cause damage and chronic pain.
* The second group has no "new" tissue damage. This kind of chronic pain can happen from an old back injury that never goes away. Or, it may develop all of the sudden with no clear reason. With chronic pain, you may not want to move the painful part of your body at all. But, you may also have pain because you are not moving this body part.
What is your chronic pain like? Caregivers want you to talk to them about your chronic pain. The more you can tell them about it the better. This may help them understand what causes it and how to treat it.
* Keep a pain diary-
Sometimes it may be easier to answer caregiver's questions by making a pain diary or book. A pain diary or journal will help you remember exactly what happened each day because it is all written down. A diary also helps track pain cycles. This will help you be more aware of when pain is bad and how to make it better. A diary answers caregiver's questions about your pain over time.
*
Caregivers should ask you to answer the following
questions.
o Where does it hurt? Where does it not hurt? Does the pain move from one area to another?
o How would you rate the pain on a scale of 0 to 10? (0 is no pain, and 10 is the worst pain you ever had.)
o How does the pain feel? Try to choose words that tell caregivers what type of pain you have. Is the pain sharp, cramping, twisting, squeezing, or crushing? Or, is the pain stabbing, burning, dull, numb, or "pins-and-needles" feeling?
o When did the pain start? Did it begin quickly or slowly? Is the pain steady or does it come and go?
o How often does the pain bother you and how long does it last?
o Does the pain effect your daily life? Can you still work in spite of the pain?
o Does the pain wake you from sleep?
o Do certain things or activities cause the pain to start or get worse like coughing or touching the area?
o Does the pain come before, during, or after meals?
o Does anything lessen the pain like changing positions, resting, medicines, or changing what you eat?
o Women: does your pain change during your menstrual cycle?
Why is chronic pain control important? . Chronic pain may effect many areas of your life. It can effect your appetite (ability or desire to eat), how well you sleep, your energy and your ability to do things. It can also effect your mood (how you feel about things) and your relationships with others. Chronic pain is complex, and sometimes it is hard to find its' cause. You may feel at times that it is impossible to get rid of your pain. This can cause a cycle of suffering, sleeplessness and sadness. If caregivers can help you control your pain, you will suffer less and enjoy your life more.
Care: The best way to lessen chronic pain is to treat the cause of the pain. Almost all types of pain, including cancer pain, can be controlled. Successful pain management for chronic pain is more than just taking medicines. It may also include exercise, relaxation therapies and behavior changes. Remember that there is no quick fix for chronic pain. Because chronic pain is complicated, it may be hard to get your pain to go away completely. But, it is possible to lower your pain level so you can live and be comfortable doing everyday things. Work with your caregiver to find the pain control treatments that are best for you.
* Specially trained caregivers and pain clinics are good ways to start working with really bad chronic pain. Sixty percent of patients who use pain clinic programs are better 1 year after treatments. These programs have many kinds of health caregivers who help with the physical (body), emotional (mind) and spiritual parts of chronic pain.
* Always tell your caregiver if the pain gets worse. Ask your caregiver if you want more information on any of the following pain control treatments.
* Medicines:
o Anti-Anxiety Medicine: This medicine may be given to help you
feel less nervous and relax. It may be given by IV, as a shot, or by
mouth.
o Anti-Depressants:
This medicine is often given to lessen or to prevent the symptoms of
severe depression. It can also be used to treat certain kinds of
chronic nerve pain. It is given as a shot or by mouth.
o Anti-Convulsant (kun-vull-sunt):
This medicine is given to control seizures. It can also be used to treat certain kinds of chronic nerve pain and may help control your mood swings. It is given by IV, as a shot, or by mouth.
This medicine is given to control seizures. It can also be used to treat certain kinds of chronic nerve pain and may help control your mood swings. It is given by IV, as a shot, or by mouth.
o Muscle Relaxers:
You may need medicine to help your muscles relax. This medicine can be given by IV, as a shot, or by mouth. Muscle relaxers can make you feel dizzy or weak. Call you caregiver if you need help getting out of bed.
You may need medicine to help your muscles relax. This medicine can be given by IV, as a shot, or by mouth. Muscle relaxers can make you feel dizzy or weak. Call you caregiver if you need help getting out of bed.
o NSAID (n-said);
This medicine may be given to decrease inflammation (in-fluh-ma-shun) which is redness, pain, and swelling. It is very good for chronic bone pain that comes from arthritis or cancer. It is given by mouth or inhaled in your nose.
This medicine may be given to decrease inflammation (in-fluh-ma-shun) which is redness, pain, and swelling. It is very good for chronic bone pain that comes from arthritis or cancer. It is given by mouth or inhaled in your nose.
o Pain medicine
effects the nervous system so you feel less pain. Your caregiver will tell you how much to take and how often. Take the medicine regularly as directed by your caregiver. Do not wait until the pain is too bad. The medicine may not work as well at controlling the pain if you wait too long to take it. Tell caregivers if the pain does not go away or comes back.
effects the nervous system so you feel less pain. Your caregiver will tell you how much to take and how often. Take the medicine regularly as directed by your caregiver. Do not wait until the pain is too bad. The medicine may not work as well at controlling the pain if you wait too long to take it. Tell caregivers if the pain does not go away or comes back.
o Steroids (stair-oids):
This medicine may be given to decrease inflammation (in-fluh-ma-shun) which is redness, pain, and swelling. There are many different reasons to take steroids. This medicine can help a lot but may also have side effects. Be sure you understand why you need steroids. Don't stop taking this medicine without your caregivers OK. Stopping on your own can cause problems.
How can pain medicine be given? Following are the many different ways pain medicine can be given depending on the kind of pain you have.
This medicine may be given to decrease inflammation (in-fluh-ma-shun) which is redness, pain, and swelling. There are many different reasons to take steroids. This medicine can help a lot but may also have side effects. Be sure you understand why you need steroids. Don't stop taking this medicine without your caregivers OK. Stopping on your own can cause problems.
How can pain medicine be given? Following are the many different ways pain medicine can be given depending on the kind of pain you have.
* By mouth:
You may be given pills or liquid to swallow or you may be given a pill or liquid to put under your tongue. Pain medicine may also be given as a lozenge (law-zenj) that you suck on like a cough drop.
You may be given pills or liquid to swallow or you may be given a pill or liquid to put under your tongue. Pain medicine may also be given as a lozenge (law-zenj) that you suck on like a cough drop.
* Epidural
(eh-pih-der-ull):
Medicine is given through a catheter (tube ) that caregivers put into epidural space (the areas around the spinal cord).
Medicine is given through a catheter (tube ) that caregivers put into epidural space (the areas around the spinal cord).
* Intranasal:
Medicine is dripped or sprayed into the nose.
Medicine is dripped or sprayed into the nose.
* Nerve
block:
A shot of medicine is put close to the nerves in the area that hurts to break the pain cycle. The medicine makes the nerves unable to send pain messages to your brain. Nerve blocks give short-term relief of pain so that you can use the painful part and have a more normal life.
A shot of medicine is put close to the nerves in the area that hurts to break the pain cycle. The medicine makes the nerves unable to send pain messages to your brain. Nerve blocks give short-term relief of pain so that you can use the painful part and have a more normal life.
* PCA:
A PCA device to give you pain medicine. PCA stands for patient-controlled analgesia (an-ull-g-z-uh). This is an electric pump with pain medicine which is connected through a tube to an IV (in your vein) or sub-q (under your skin). You press a button when you feel pain and you receive medicine from the pump through the tube. Caregivers have set the pump so you cannot get too much medicine. A PCA pump works well to control pain because you can give yourself medicine before the pain gets too bad. Being in control of your pain relief also helps you relax and deal with the pain better.
A PCA device to give you pain medicine. PCA stands for patient-controlled analgesia (an-ull-g-z-uh). This is an electric pump with pain medicine which is connected through a tube to an IV (in your vein) or sub-q (under your skin). You press a button when you feel pain and you receive medicine from the pump through the tube. Caregivers have set the pump so you cannot get too much medicine. A PCA pump works well to control pain because you can give yourself medicine before the pain gets too bad. Being in control of your pain relief also helps you relax and deal with the pain better.
* Rectal:
Medicine in a suppository (suh-paw-zih-tor-e) is put into your rectum.
Medicine in a suppository (suh-paw-zih-tor-e) is put into your rectum.
* Shot:
Pain medicine can be given as a shot in an IV, into a muscle, or under the skin (sub-q).
Pain medicine can be given as a shot in an IV, into a muscle, or under the skin (sub-q).
* Topical:
Medicine in a cream or gel is spread over your skin.
Medicine in a cream or gel is spread over your skin.
*
Transdermal:
Some medicine can be given as a patch put on the skin. This medicine is released slowly to give pain relief for as long as 72 hours
How can you take pain medicine safely and make it work the best for you?
* Do not wait until you are in pain to take your medicine if your caregiver has suggested a regular schedule around the clock. If you wait until you feel bad, you will only be "chasing" your pain and not controlling it.
* Sometimes the pain is worse when you first wake up in the morning. This may happen if you did not have enough pain medicine in your blood stream to last through the night. Caregivers may tell you to take a dose of pain medicine during the night.
* Some pain medicines can make you breathe less deeply and less often. The medicine may also make you sleepy, dizzy, and unsafe to drive a car or use heavy equipment. For these reasons, it is very important to follow your caregiver's advice on how to use this medicine.
* Some foods, alcohol, and other medicines may cause unpleasant side effects when you take pain medicine. Follow your caregiver's advice about how to prevent these problems.
* Pain medicine and NSAID's can make you constipated (hard BMs). Following are some things that you can do to deal with constipation.
o Eat more foods high in fiber. Some high-fiber foods are raw fruits and vegetables, whole-grain breads and cereals, dried fruits, popcorn, and nuts.
o Avoid hard cheeses and refined grains, such as rice and macaroni.
Some medicine can be given as a patch put on the skin. This medicine is released slowly to give pain relief for as long as 72 hours
How can you take pain medicine safely and make it work the best for you?
* Do not wait until you are in pain to take your medicine if your caregiver has suggested a regular schedule around the clock. If you wait until you feel bad, you will only be "chasing" your pain and not controlling it.
* Sometimes the pain is worse when you first wake up in the morning. This may happen if you did not have enough pain medicine in your blood stream to last through the night. Caregivers may tell you to take a dose of pain medicine during the night.
* Some pain medicines can make you breathe less deeply and less often. The medicine may also make you sleepy, dizzy, and unsafe to drive a car or use heavy equipment. For these reasons, it is very important to follow your caregiver's advice on how to use this medicine.
* Some foods, alcohol, and other medicines may cause unpleasant side effects when you take pain medicine. Follow your caregiver's advice about how to prevent these problems.
* Pain medicine and NSAID's can make you constipated (hard BMs). Following are some things that you can do to deal with constipation.
o Eat more foods high in fiber. Some high-fiber foods are raw fruits and vegetables, whole-grain breads and cereals, dried fruits, popcorn, and nuts.
o Avoid hard cheeses and refined grains, such as rice and macaroni.
o Talk to your caregiver about drinking more liquids if you are not on a fluid restriction. Drinking warm or hot liquids can help make your bowels more active. Prune juice may also help make the BM softer.
o Caregivers may tell you to take fiber medicine to help make your BMs softer and more regular. This fiber medicine can be bought at any grocery or drug store. Also, ask your caregiver about taking a mild laxative (medicine to soften BMs).
o Walking is a very good way to get your bowels moving. Try to get up and around and do as much of your own personal care as possible. Talk to your caregiver before you start exercising so that together you can plan an exercise program.
* Do not stop taking pain medicine suddenly if you have been taking it longer than 2 weeks. Your body may have become used to the medicine. Stopping the medicine all at once may cause unpleasant or dangerous side effects.
* With time, you may feel that the pain medicine is not working as well as it did before. Call your caregiver if this happens. Together you can find new ways to control the pain.
Other non-drug pain control
treatments:
* Acupuncture (ah-q-punk-sher) is based on the belief that life forces move through the body in specific paths. These paths are called meridians (mer-ih-d-uns). With acupuncture, a needle is put into the meridian that runs to the area where you have pain. This needle blocks the meridian which stops or lessens the pain.
* Aromatherapy (ah-ro-mah-ther-a-p)
is away of using good smells to help you relax and lessen pain. Candles, oil burners and massage oils are all ways that smells are used. Scientists are learning that good smells may change your mood and help you relax. It may also help your brain makes special chemicals called endorphins (en-door-fins). Endorphins are a natural body chemical like morphine that lessens pain.
* Biofeedback
teaches your body to respond in a different way to the stress of being in pain. Teaching your body to relax helps make the pain less. Caregivers may use a biofeedback machine so that you know right away when your body is relaxed. But, often you may not need any machines. Learn to take your pulse. Then take it while making you mind think about "slowing down" your pulse. This can work with breathing, temperature, and blood pressure too.
* Breathing exercises
are another physical way to help your body relax. Teaching your body to relax helps make the pain less. Breathing in and out very slowly is all you do. Women have used breathing exercise for many years to lessen the pain of childbirth. A fun way to practice breathing slowly is to blow soap bubbles. You know you are doing good job when you get very large bubbles. Remember to practice when you are not having pain. This helps it work better when you are having pain.
* Distraction (dih-strak-shun)
teaches you to focus your attention on something other than pain. Try playing cards or games, watching TV, or taking a walk. You can also visit with friends, paint, pet animals, and write out your feelings. Using planned activities helps to manage the boredom that chronic pain and illness can cause. It may also cause you to relax and keep you from thinking about the pain.
* Environment (your surroundings) -
Being in a quiet place may make it easier for you to deal with the pain. Avoiding bright lights or loud noisy places can also help control your pain. Making sure your home is not too hot or too cold may also lessen pain.
* Guided imagery (ih-mig-ree)
teaches you to put pictures in your mind that will make the pain less intense. With guided imagery, you learn how to change the way your body senses and responds to pain. Imagine floating in the clouds or remembering favorite place. Guided imagery seems to especially help people with chronic lower back pain.
* Heat and cold
can help lessen pain. Some types of pain improve best using heat while other types of pain improve most with cold. Caregivers will tell you if hot and/or cold packs will help your pain. Also, remember that a long warm bath may help calm you and let your muscles relax. A cool shower on a very hot summer day may do the same thing.
* Acupuncture (ah-q-punk-sher) is based on the belief that life forces move through the body in specific paths. These paths are called meridians (mer-ih-d-uns). With acupuncture, a needle is put into the meridian that runs to the area where you have pain. This needle blocks the meridian which stops or lessens the pain.
* Aromatherapy (ah-ro-mah-ther-a-p)
is away of using good smells to help you relax and lessen pain. Candles, oil burners and massage oils are all ways that smells are used. Scientists are learning that good smells may change your mood and help you relax. It may also help your brain makes special chemicals called endorphins (en-door-fins). Endorphins are a natural body chemical like morphine that lessens pain.
* Biofeedback
teaches your body to respond in a different way to the stress of being in pain. Teaching your body to relax helps make the pain less. Caregivers may use a biofeedback machine so that you know right away when your body is relaxed. But, often you may not need any machines. Learn to take your pulse. Then take it while making you mind think about "slowing down" your pulse. This can work with breathing, temperature, and blood pressure too.
* Breathing exercises
are another physical way to help your body relax. Teaching your body to relax helps make the pain less. Breathing in and out very slowly is all you do. Women have used breathing exercise for many years to lessen the pain of childbirth. A fun way to practice breathing slowly is to blow soap bubbles. You know you are doing good job when you get very large bubbles. Remember to practice when you are not having pain. This helps it work better when you are having pain.
* Distraction (dih-strak-shun)
teaches you to focus your attention on something other than pain. Try playing cards or games, watching TV, or taking a walk. You can also visit with friends, paint, pet animals, and write out your feelings. Using planned activities helps to manage the boredom that chronic pain and illness can cause. It may also cause you to relax and keep you from thinking about the pain.
* Environment (your surroundings) -
Being in a quiet place may make it easier for you to deal with the pain. Avoiding bright lights or loud noisy places can also help control your pain. Making sure your home is not too hot or too cold may also lessen pain.
* Guided imagery (ih-mig-ree)
teaches you to put pictures in your mind that will make the pain less intense. With guided imagery, you learn how to change the way your body senses and responds to pain. Imagine floating in the clouds or remembering favorite place. Guided imagery seems to especially help people with chronic lower back pain.
* Heat and cold
can help lessen pain. Some types of pain improve best using heat while other types of pain improve most with cold. Caregivers will tell you if hot and/or cold packs will help your pain. Also, remember that a long warm bath may help calm you and let your muscles relax. A cool shower on a very hot summer day may do the same thing.
* Individual Therapy:
This is a time for you to meet alone with your therapist. During this time you and your therapist may talk about how to cope with your chronic pain.
* Family Therapy:
These are times when your caregivers will meet with you and your family. Together, you will talk about how your family may help you cope with your chronic pain at home.
* Physical therapy
can be helpful with pain that was caused by not moving one part of your body. Stretching the muscles and making them stronger around the injured area can help the pain go away.
* Laughter -
It has been said that "10 minutes of belly laughter gives 2 hours of pain-free sleep!" Laughter helps you breath deeper and your stomach digest (break down) food. It lowers blood pressure and may cause your brain to make endorphins. Laughter can also help change your moods. It helps you relax and let go of stress, anger, fear, depression, and hopelessness. These are all parts of chronic pain.
* Massage
is often used to help a person become more relaxed. Have someone gently massage your back, shoulders, and neck. Massage can be even more effective if you also use guided imagery, breathing exercises or music.
* Music
- It does not matter whether you listen to it, sing, hum or play an instrument. Music increases blood flow to the brain and helps you take in more air. Scientists are learning that it increases energy and helps change your mood. Music also may cause your brain to make special chemicals like endorphins. Endorphins are a natural body chemical like morphine that lessen pain. People who use music often say it decreases their need of medicines for pain and anxiety.
* Radiation
can be used to decrease the size of a cancer tumor that is pressing on nerves and causing pain. Radiation can also help lessen bone pain.
* Self-hypnosis
is a way to change your level of awareness. This means that by focusing your attention you can move away from your pain. You make yourself open to suggestions like ignoring the pain or seeing the pain in a positive way. It is not known exactly how hypnosis helps pain. But, hypnosis can give long-lasting relief of pain without affecting your normal activities. Self-hypnosis gives you better control of your body. You may feel less hopeless and helpless because you are doing something to lessen the pain.
* Surgery
may be done to stop chronic pain. Caregivers may do surgery to cut the nerves to the painful area. The goal of this surgery is to stop the pain without losing feeling or movement in the area. In some people the pain can come back after surgery or the pain may even be worse. For these reasons, surgery is usually not considered until all other pain control treatments have been tried.
* TENS
is short for transcutaneous (trans-q-tain-e-us) electrical nerve stimulation (stih-mew-la-shun). A TENS unit is a portable, pocket-sized, battery-powered device which attaches to the skin. The TENS unit uses mild, safe electrical signals to help control pain.
* Touch energy therapies
come from very old beliefs that life forces or energy move through the body in specific paths. Touch therapies believe disease may cause these paths to become blocked. The therapies use touch to help unblock these paths, and allow the energy to flow normally. Making the paths unblocked may help you relax and lessen pain.
* Spinal cord stimulation
is a nerve stimulation technique that is similar to TENS. The difference is that in SCS an electrode (a metal wire) is put near the spinal cord during surgery. SCS also uses mild, safe electrical signals to help control pain.
Tips to help you manage
pain.
* Get started on an exercise program.
Talk to your caregiver before you start exercising. Together you can plan the best exercise program for you. It is best to start slowly and so more as you get stronger. Exercising increases your flexibility (ability to bend and move) and strength. This improves overall fitness, decreases risk for further injuries, and helps control pain.
* Get started on an exercise program.
Talk to your caregiver before you start exercising. Together you can plan the best exercise program for you. It is best to start slowly and so more as you get stronger. Exercising increases your flexibility (ability to bend and move) and strength. This improves overall fitness, decreases risk for further injuries, and helps control pain.
* Set pain management goals and follow through on them.
Pick your greatest pain problems and set goals to focus on each one.
* Check your progress.
Use a chart or log to mark your progress as you meet each goal.
* Write yourself a contract.
By making a contract with yourself, you can keep promises to manage your pain. A pain control contract works just like other legal kinds of agreements in your life. You set up pain goals, and dates to meet those goals.
* Plan each day.
Use a schedule or a "to-do" list for exercise and other activities. This will help you to meet your goals.
* Keep your environment healthful and stay positive.
Get rid of things in your home that might cause you to go back to unhealthy habits. Make sure your house shows your positive attitude. This will keep your spirits up and help you work with and manage your pain.
* Seek and accept support.
Support from friends, family, and your caregivers can help keep you on track and help on difficult days.
* Work as a team with your caregivers.
Keep your caregivers updated on your progress. This way you can work together to overcome problems when they happen.
* Prepare for difficult situations.
Make a list of trouble areas with your pain and create a plan. Planning will decrease surprise when something happens. You will be prepared and that will lessen your stress.
* Reward yourself.
Treat yourself to something you like each time you reach a goal or complete a pain strategy or plan. This will strengthen your positive attitude and successes.
Write or call the following organizations for more information.
* American Chronic Pain Association
P.O. Box 850
Rocklin, CA 95677
Phone: 1 (916) 632-0922
Web Address: http://www.theacpa.org
* American Pain Society
4700 W. Lake Avenue
Glenview, IL 60025
Phone: 1 (847) 375-4715
Web Address: http://www.ampainsoc.org/
* Arthritis Foundation
1330 W. Peachtree
Atlanta, GA 30309
Phone: 1 (800) 283-7800
Web Address: http://www.arthritis.org/
* National Chronic Pain Outreach Association (NCPOA)
7979 Old Georgetown Road
Suite 100, Bethesda, MD 20814-2429
Phone: 1 (301) 652-4948
Call your caregiver if you have any of
the following problems.
* The medicine you are taking makes you sleepier than usual or confused.
* You have more stomach upset since you have been taking new medicines.
* You have new rashes or a lot of itching.
* You have a new pain or the pain seems different than before.
* You have constipation that is not lessened with the treatments described above.
* You feel very anxious, "antsy", or agitated after you take your medicines.
* You have nausea and vomiting after you take your medicines.
* You start to have trouble urinating. Or, if you have trouble controlling your bowel or bladder.
CARE AGREEMENT:
You have the right to help plan your care.
To help with this plan, you must learn about your pain, what is
causing it, and how it can be treated. You can then discuss treatment
options with your caregivers. Work with them to decide what care will
be used to treat you. You always have the right to refuse
treatment.
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