Pain is your body’s alarm system. It tells you that something went wrong, such as an injury to a part of your body. Pain also warns you about how to act. For example, if you touch a hot pot, pain signals from your brain make you pull your hand back immediately. This pain helps protect you.
In general, pain is examined in 2 categories.
Acute Pain- Acute pain is temporary pain due to physical sensitivity to tissue damage. It can last from a few seconds to several months, but usually resolves after normal tissue healing. It occurs after a specific cause such as injury, burning, fracture formation, overuse of the muscles, medical procedure or surgery.
Chronic Pain-Pain that continues despite the completion of the normal healing process. It can take from a few months to years. It can be mild or severe enough to be disabling. It may be due to diseases such as arthritis or diabetes, or it may develop after trauma, surgery or amputation. The cause of some chronic pain is unclear and may result from damage or injury to nerve fibers. Nerves sometimes continue to send pain signals even though there is no ongoing tissue damage.
You may already have chronic pain and may be currently experiencing acute pain. Your doctor will ask you a number of questions to see if your current pain is a new pain (acute) or a continuation of your chronic pain.
Talking About Pain
Your doctor will ask you questions about your pain. Accurately describing your pain will help your doctor understand the type of pain, make a diagnosis, and determine a treatment plan. You can help with correct answers to the following questions:
Where is your pain?
How long have you had pain?
Is the pain constant or does it come and go?
How long does the pain last?
What makes your pain better?
What makes your pain worse?
What is the severity of your pain?
Has your pain changed since your last visit to your doctor?
What kind of medications or interventions were used for your pain? How much of an impact did they have?
There are different methods for measuring pain. One way is simply to be asked to describe your pain. Use to describe words such as flammable, stinging, stinging, throbbing, sharp, blunt, or pulsating.
Another way of describing pain is the use of a pain scale. You will be asked to give your pain a score between 0 and 10. 0 represents you have no pain, 10 represents the most intense, most severe pain possible.
Coping with Your Pain
Your doctor will determine a treatment plan with the information they receive from you. It is of great importance that you report the changes in your pain after the treatment given. Sometimes your doctor may not be able to control your pain with medications. There are many things you can do to deal with your pain until a new treatment plan is created. The following suggestions can help reduce your pain and increase the effectiveness of your treatment:
Deep Breathing- Deep breathing is a very simple way to relax your whole body. Inhale 4-5 times slowly and deeply through your nose and hold your breath for a few seconds. Purse your lips as if to whistle. Exhale slowly through your mouth. Make sure the exhalation time is at least twice as long as the inhale time. Keep going until you feel comfortable.
Visual Thinking- Imagining yourself in a special place that has meaning to you, like the beach of a beautiful sea, can prevent you from thinking about your pain. Close your eyes, take deep breaths and imagine yourself exactly where you want to be.
Praying or meditation- Praying or meditation makes you feel that you are not alone
Listening to soft music
Watching entertainment programs on TV
Reading
Visiting friends and family
Conclusion
If you communicate properly with your doctor about your pain, you will play a very important role in your treatment. The information you provide will help in diagnosing and treating your pain.
