Speak Up: What You Should Know about Pain Management

Excerpts from the Joint Commission Patient Handout

Questions To Ask Your Caregivers
􏰀What pain medicine is being ordered or given to you?
􏰀Can you explain the doses and times that the
medicine needs to be taken?
􏰀What should you do if the medicine makes you sick
to your stomach?
􏰀What can you do if the pain medicine is not working?
􏰀What else can you do to help treat your pain?

Are there other ways to relieve pain?
That will depend on your illness or condition and how
much pain you have. Sometimes pain can be relieved
in other ways. Some other treatments for pain are
listed here
􏰀Acupuncture, which uses small needles to block pain
􏰀Taking your mind off the pain with movies, games
and conversation
􏰀Electrical nerve stimulation, which uses small jolts
of electricity to block pain
􏰀Physical therapy 􏰀Exercise
􏰀Hypnosis 􏰀Heat or cold
􏰀Massage 􏰀Relaxation

The Joint Commissionis an ” independent, not-for-profit organization, The Joint Commission accredits and certifies more than 18,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States”
Information for the General Public includes Helping You Choose Guides