avogadro
08-28-2003, 01:49 AM
Hi,
I just read a post that mentioned something about a "Pain Diary". I have never done this but it sounds like a good idea. Can I get responses from people who have done this? Maybe just ideas about when/what/how to record?
Is this just useful information for the doctor or have you found that it helps you evaluate/deal with your pain management as well?
Thanks!
I just read a post that mentioned something about a "Pain Diary". I have never done this but it sounds like a good idea. Can I get responses from people who have done this? Maybe just ideas about when/what/how to record?
Is this just useful information for the doctor or have you found that it helps you evaluate/deal with your pain management as well?
Thanks!
Sponsor
grizzk62
08-28-2003, 10:20 AM
Avogrado,
Hey I do keep a pain diary that I mentioned in an earlier post. What I have found in how this helps in my PM is that I keep an acurate count of my meds. I found out about the cycles in pain meds and pain relief. I respect my meds alot more. And I am more aware of the other mopdalities I do during the my pain levels and what help and what makes it worse. I use a at home tens unit that I use dailey and I do more stretching than before I started to keep a PM diary. And the Doc is aware as to how to help relieve the pain you experience and when you should medicate and at what times of day to medicate and what others procedures he should try in relieveing your pain. I hope that this helps . Keep me posted as to how you are doing.
take care,
Matt
[This message has been edited by grizzk62 (edited 08-28-2003).]
Hey I do keep a pain diary that I mentioned in an earlier post. What I have found in how this helps in my PM is that I keep an acurate count of my meds. I found out about the cycles in pain meds and pain relief. I respect my meds alot more. And I am more aware of the other mopdalities I do during the my pain levels and what help and what makes it worse. I use a at home tens unit that I use dailey and I do more stretching than before I started to keep a PM diary. And the Doc is aware as to how to help relieve the pain you experience and when you should medicate and at what times of day to medicate and what others procedures he should try in relieveing your pain. I hope that this helps . Keep me posted as to how you are doing.
take care,
Matt
[This message has been edited by grizzk62 (edited 08-28-2003).]
Mo7609
08-28-2003, 10:32 AM
Matt what is a tens unit? My doctor said that was one of the things thatthey do for CP Pt at PM DR. I guess I should have asked what it was. Thanks Mo
HikingFan
08-28-2003, 10:42 AM
Hi
My pain diary includes the following:
A rating every couple of hours of what my pain level is, and an accurate time I take each med. I always make sure to note what it does to the pain level, how long it takes to get to that lowered level, and when it starts to get worse. Here is what part of a daily one looks like for me:
***
7AM- Wake up in bad pain...Level 8
Had a bad night, up 3 times with pain and numb hands
Take 15mg methadone, 2 norcos
8AM- Pain down to a 6
10AM- Pain up to a 7
11AM- Pain 7.5
12AM- Take 1 Norco
1AM- Pain at a 6.5, Noticing today that my hands and right arm are especially "pins and needles" feeling, having a very hard time with head/neck rotation. Feels like something is "stuck" in the joint, rubbing and painful.
****
I do this same kind of chart for the whole day, and then before I go to bed, I write a paragraph summary like this:
***
Today I totaled 6 Norcos, 45mg of Methadone, 3 800mg Motrin. Overall, today was a pretty bad pain day, never coming below a 6. The spasms in the right shoulder were particularly bothersome, as were the numb/tingling hands. I wasn't able to do even light exercise. Looking at my chart, I notice the most relief is felt in the 2 hours following my taking the Norco for breakthru pain.
***
Then, I go through with a highlighter and highlight any place where I notated a pain scale level, and the time. This way, it was easy to look at the chart and quickly see the times and pain level through all the writing. Also, we are trying to figure out what makes my hand and arm tingle and go numb, so I highlight with a different color whenever that it happening, and the time.
I hope this helps somewhat. I'm sure other people will post some good ideas to add to this. I have found the doctor likes when you take the time to help them map out this kind of stuff. It makes their job easier, and since they see you taking an active role in helping yourself, they take you more seriously. They are less prone to think you are coming in to just get a quick fix solution (i.e, pain meds), which many addicts have forced doctors into assuming about all of us, unfortunately.
Take care, and good luck!!!
Sara
My pain diary includes the following:
A rating every couple of hours of what my pain level is, and an accurate time I take each med. I always make sure to note what it does to the pain level, how long it takes to get to that lowered level, and when it starts to get worse. Here is what part of a daily one looks like for me:
***
7AM- Wake up in bad pain...Level 8
Had a bad night, up 3 times with pain and numb hands
Take 15mg methadone, 2 norcos
8AM- Pain down to a 6
10AM- Pain up to a 7
11AM- Pain 7.5
12AM- Take 1 Norco
1AM- Pain at a 6.5, Noticing today that my hands and right arm are especially "pins and needles" feeling, having a very hard time with head/neck rotation. Feels like something is "stuck" in the joint, rubbing and painful.
****
I do this same kind of chart for the whole day, and then before I go to bed, I write a paragraph summary like this:
***
Today I totaled 6 Norcos, 45mg of Methadone, 3 800mg Motrin. Overall, today was a pretty bad pain day, never coming below a 6. The spasms in the right shoulder were particularly bothersome, as were the numb/tingling hands. I wasn't able to do even light exercise. Looking at my chart, I notice the most relief is felt in the 2 hours following my taking the Norco for breakthru pain.
***
Then, I go through with a highlighter and highlight any place where I notated a pain scale level, and the time. This way, it was easy to look at the chart and quickly see the times and pain level through all the writing. Also, we are trying to figure out what makes my hand and arm tingle and go numb, so I highlight with a different color whenever that it happening, and the time.
I hope this helps somewhat. I'm sure other people will post some good ideas to add to this. I have found the doctor likes when you take the time to help them map out this kind of stuff. It makes their job easier, and since they see you taking an active role in helping yourself, they take you more seriously. They are less prone to think you are coming in to just get a quick fix solution (i.e, pain meds), which many addicts have forced doctors into assuming about all of us, unfortunately.
Take care, and good luck!!!
Sara
grizzk62
08-28-2003, 03:25 PM
Mop,
Its called a RS medical stimulator. It has 8 leads that adhere to my back in diferent place and has 2 seperate cycles on it the first cycle that it goes thru is for pain it delivers and electrical impulse to intterupte the pain signals going to the brain and the other cycle is for muscle relaxation and it lasts for 30 min. And it stimulates the muscles and gets them to relaxe. Its works really well for me. I would recommend it to anyone that their insurance if it will cover it to give it a try.....
Matt
Its called a RS medical stimulator. It has 8 leads that adhere to my back in diferent place and has 2 seperate cycles on it the first cycle that it goes thru is for pain it delivers and electrical impulse to intterupte the pain signals going to the brain and the other cycle is for muscle relaxation and it lasts for 30 min. And it stimulates the muscles and gets them to relaxe. Its works really well for me. I would recommend it to anyone that their insurance if it will cover it to give it a try.....
Matt
hottrodd
08-29-2003, 02:42 AM
Hey Grizz
Do you mind telling me what brand and model number your TENS unit is? Also what was the cost?
My insurance just got back with me and let me know they cover 50% of the cost as long as my doctor approves it for me. He should, he is pretty cool..
I know some are cheap and some are expensive. 50%, I think that's pretty good for a Blue Shield HMO, although I have seen some people on here have 100% coverage or just a co-pay. I can deal with half, and would like to get one. I get it done during my therapy sessions before adjustment at my chiro appt's. they work great at relieving pain and muscle spasm tension, well at least for me they do. I even get added relief if he adds an ultrasound with heat after the TENS using the bio-freeze gel. I always feel good for that day, or at least most of it.
I like the idea of different setting on yours, how long have you had it, you sound like you obviously love it!
Thanks..
Hottrodd
------------------
* 27 years old, male
*Chronic upper back pain for about 6 years, recently getting really bad, really stiff in the morning takes forever to get going, lasts all day everyday.
*Crackling sounds from rib cage area across upper and middle back when stretching.
* Pain, tightness and burning all day long, usually ranges from a 4 through 9 depending on the day and how my body wants to react. Usually it's at least a 6/7 all day recently, used to be an annoying 3/4 all day, which I lived with but hated.
*Problem areas are mainly around breastbone area of chest, across shoulder blades, dead center upper back, upper shoulders and back of neck. Feels as if it's muscles and bones/joints, possibly ribs.
*Muscles spasms, had a couple that were severe enough to go to ER, felt like I was having a heart attack, pain radiated through upper back to chest area.
*Taking Vicodin 5/500 Soma 350 and Celebrex 200, which also helps somewhat but not to where I am not bothered by the pain, burning, tightness ect..
*Chiropractic 3 years, PT on and off again, all of which produces results that do not last for more than the day I have them.
*Can't remember any trauma I had that would have caused all this. Don't understand how it's getting worse.
*Can't really do anything, lifting, heavy physical ect.. Try and walk and stretch when I can.
*Still undiagnosed and waiting
Do you mind telling me what brand and model number your TENS unit is? Also what was the cost?
My insurance just got back with me and let me know they cover 50% of the cost as long as my doctor approves it for me. He should, he is pretty cool..
I know some are cheap and some are expensive. 50%, I think that's pretty good for a Blue Shield HMO, although I have seen some people on here have 100% coverage or just a co-pay. I can deal with half, and would like to get one. I get it done during my therapy sessions before adjustment at my chiro appt's. they work great at relieving pain and muscle spasm tension, well at least for me they do. I even get added relief if he adds an ultrasound with heat after the TENS using the bio-freeze gel. I always feel good for that day, or at least most of it.
I like the idea of different setting on yours, how long have you had it, you sound like you obviously love it!
Thanks..
Hottrodd
------------------
* 27 years old, male
*Chronic upper back pain for about 6 years, recently getting really bad, really stiff in the morning takes forever to get going, lasts all day everyday.
*Crackling sounds from rib cage area across upper and middle back when stretching.
* Pain, tightness and burning all day long, usually ranges from a 4 through 9 depending on the day and how my body wants to react. Usually it's at least a 6/7 all day recently, used to be an annoying 3/4 all day, which I lived with but hated.
*Problem areas are mainly around breastbone area of chest, across shoulder blades, dead center upper back, upper shoulders and back of neck. Feels as if it's muscles and bones/joints, possibly ribs.
*Muscles spasms, had a couple that were severe enough to go to ER, felt like I was having a heart attack, pain radiated through upper back to chest area.
*Taking Vicodin 5/500 Soma 350 and Celebrex 200, which also helps somewhat but not to where I am not bothered by the pain, burning, tightness ect..
*Chiropractic 3 years, PT on and off again, all of which produces results that do not last for more than the day I have them.
*Can't remember any trauma I had that would have caused all this. Don't understand how it's getting worse.
*Can't really do anything, lifting, heavy physical ect.. Try and walk and stretch when I can.
*Still undiagnosed and waiting
hottrodd
08-30-2003, 01:24 AM
bump