When your parent is in pain, it can be difficult to talk about and describe. "It really hurts" usually isn't enough for the doctor to to figure out what's happening. It doesn't help that pain is subjective and some people feel it more intensely or in different ways than others. To help you communicate more clearly with your parent's doctor -- and be a more effective advocate -- use this checklist to keep a record of your parent's pain.
If you ask your parent each of the following questions and keep a careful record of the answers, as well as how they change over time, you'll be giving the doctor or nurse clearer information for treating the pain successfully.
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Where is the pain located? (Have him point to the exact spot if possible.)
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Can you describe the pain? Is it a sharp stab? A dull ache? Does it feel more like the cramp of a stomachache or more like the throb of a headache?
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How would you rate the intensity of the pain on a scale of 1 (least) to 10 (most)?
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What makes the pain feel better?
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What makes the pain feel worse?
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How quickly or slowly does the pain come on? Is it sudden or gradual?
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How long does the pain last? Does it stay until you take medication, or does it go away on its own, even for a short while?
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If the pain is intermittent, how often does it occur? (If necessary, help your parent clock it, the way a woman would clock labor pain, and write down the intervals.)
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In what ways does the pain interfere with normal daily activities? Can you sleep? Eat? Walk?
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Can you describe exactly how well your medication works? How quickly does it relieve the pain? Does it make the pain go away entirely, or just partially? How long does it last?
My mother has dementia. She is also profoundly deaf and reads lips and gestures/body language/facial expressions as a means to receive communication from others. Fortunately she is in pretty good health. This article assumes the one with dementia is at a stage early enough to even understand the questions. What would you recommend for my mother should she become even more demented remembering that she is as profoundly deaf as she is?
It raelly helped to describe ways my parent and mom in law can describe their pain.
I've often struggled with trying to describe my different aches and pains. Now I can go through this list to help me record my feelings day to day, and until the next Drs. appointment. Thank you for making the list for those of us that need it.
Keeping a time line on how long it takes for the medicine to work and how long it lasts. Also does it totally alleviate the pain or only partially. I also liked the information on whether it affects ones ADLs.
See comments as given for anoynomous
to answer the questions on identifying the pains so that the Doctor can evaluate properly and prescribe appropriate Pain Management medication
I try to do this already with my mom, but I haven't been specific enough
my dad will say he feels terrible, when i ask him whats the matter, or what part of his body hurts, he just says 'oh by there, but its gone now im ok'...i repeatedly ask him and he will say im ok now!....how can i match that one!
My Dad has bad gout attacks. His feet become very swollen. When it is very bad he just won't get out of bed - which is great! Other days he exhibits no sign of being in pain whatsoever - he will walk effortlessly. I think the pain reseptors in hs brain has been damaged. Then two minutes later he will be incapacitated by the gout-pain and need assistance to walk. From time to time he has sharp stabbing pains in his head. Dad responds well to over the counter meds.
And then after asking all these questions, you'll likely have to ask them again, when your loved one asks, "What pain?" Why are you asking me all these questions?" SMILE It sounds funny, but it happens! GREAT Questions for identifying the pain. Worth it to print this and keep in your caregiving file.
Being able to have the check list in hand whenever needed. This way I can show it to Mom and maybe she'll understand what I what to know.