Pain Management Journal

Many people miscalculate the debilitating power of chronic pain, other than those of us who live with it daily. Pain can come in many forms, whether consistent or fluctuating, continuous or temporary, widespread over the body or localized to one region. It is not uncommon for emotional pain to coincide with physical pain. It is imperative for chronic pain sufferers to be proactive in their pain management. With all types of pain, implementing a pain journal is a vital first step in becoming proactive with the target result of achieving some relief. The following paragraphs contain thorough instructions on getting started with your pain journal.

Assess your pain meticulously. This may be done by keeping a detailed chronic pain journal. This journal should include your perceived level of pain, perhaps on a scale of 0 (zero) to 5 (five), zero being no pain, 1 (one) being mild, 2 (two) being mildly moderate, 3 (three) being moderate, 4 (four) being moderately severe, and 5 (five) being extremely severe. You can use any scale you feel would be most suitable for your pain management needs. Use scales for other prominent symptoms, as well, whether uncommonly or commonly accompanying your pain, such as immobility or stiffness, headaches, nausea, fatigue, and so on. Include the ‘who', ‘what', ‘when', ‘where', ‘why', and ‘how'. This means being descriptive in your pain logging.

What were you doing throughout your day, and, most specifically, within the hour or so before the onset or worsening of your pain? What treatments or therapies did you attempt to relieve the pain (i.e.: medications, heat/cold application, sleep, massage, etc.)? What other symptoms, if any, were present at the time of your pain (i.e.: nausea, heartburn, dry mouth, intense fatigue, fever, skin rash, etc.)? List even those that you may believe are seemingly irrelevant or unrelated to your pain. If an abnormal feeling, unusual sensation, or uncommonly occurring symptom emerges during your pain (i.e.: visual disturbances, hearing changes, etc.), be sure to be equally as descriptive with those symptoms, as well. It may indicate the advent of a different type of condition or a required change in treatments.

When did need for pain management commence or increase? When did it subside or decrease? Including the time duration of your pain is crucial in monitoring your condition's progression. Include details of any fluctuations in pain levels individually, as separate entries in your journal.

Where were you when the pain occurred? Include details of the surroundings, if the place is not one you frequent enough to be familiar with the details of those surroundings based on memory alone.

Why do you believe the pain initiated or worsened? Formulate some educated notions on what may have been the cause of your pain (i.e.: migraine onset- Asian cuisine with added MSG, strong aromas, etc.; arthritic pain- overuse of joints, weather, etc.; other sorts of pain - increased stress level, forgotten dose of medication administration, missed another form of treatment, etc.).

How did the pain present itself or intensify in severity? For example, was it a dull, constant pain or a sharp, shooting pain? It may be helpful to use oxycodone.

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