Sweet
Relief
don’t try to tough it out. “If I could tell Interestingly, a new review of 48 studies that in-
patients one thing, it would be, ‘Do not wait until cluded more than 23,000 pain patients found that
your pain is severe or unbearable to ask for meds,’” those who coped by distracting themselves reported
says Sean O’Mahony, M.B., B.Ch., B.A.O., medical higher pain scores than those who used other ways
director of palliative care service at Montefiore of coping, including medication. “Contrary to popu-
Medical Center, in New York City. “Tell a nurse or lar belief, trying to ignore pain simply isn’t effective,
doctor the minute you start to feel pain. A wealth of and it allows nerves to become increasingly sensi-
research reveals that patients who proactively request tized, resulting in more pain,” explains senior study
medication actually require less overall.” That’s be- author Frances F. Chung, M.D., medical director of
cause once pain peaks, your body’s nerve signals tend the ambulatory surgical unit and combined surgical
to go haywire and don’t respond to drugs as well, unit at Toronto Western Hospital, in Canada.
increasing the total dosage you’ll need to get relief.
“Remember, controlling pain isn’t just about feeling do educate yourself. “Knowledge is power”
comfortable,” explains O’Mahony. “It helps you com- isn’t just a saying—it’s the truth. “The more you know
municate better. And when you’re not in pain, you’re about your medical problem and treatment plan,
better able to follow instructions and sit still when including pain management, the more in control
necessary, which often improves the quality of diag- you’ll feel,” says O’Mahony. “In the hospital, you lose
nostic tests like X-rays.” Relieving the ache also makes your daily rhythm; you can’t do most of the activities
it easier to move around—a good thing since physi- that give you a sense of self-worth. In turn, that makes
cal activity reduces your odds of developing blood you feel out of control, which can increase feelings
clots and other circulatory problems, as well as infec- of anxiety and depression, both of which can exac-
tions like pneumonia. erbate pain.” But knowing what’s happening to you
“Don’t wait to ask for pain meds,” says pain expert Sean O’Mahony.
“Research shows that those who proactively request medication need less.”
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© ©
28 the patient magazine 2010
PT026__0FVP0_SP10FEATpain.indd 28 2/5/10 8:15 AM
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