"Pain Diary" - to HikingFan..and anyone else! - Pain Management Message Board

avogadro · 08-27-2003, 10:49 PM

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!

grizzk62 · 08-28-2003, 07:20 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).]

Mo7609 · 08-28-2003, 07:32 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, 07:42 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

grizzk62 · 08-28-2003, 12:25 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