September is Pain Awareness Month. Chances are you know someone who lives with persistent pain - maybe it's you. For many people, living with pain is a way of life. Living a full and active life, however, may seem impossible.
Unmanaged pain can slow the rate of recovery for surgical patients and affect the quality of outcomes. Cancer patients who experience breakthrough pain are hospitalized and visit the emergency room more often than patients whose pain is under control. Pain is the No. 1 cause of adult disability in the United States and affects one in three adults.
TYPES OF PAIN
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Acute Pain: May be mild and last just a moment. It also can be severe and last for weeks or months, as does pain from a burn, pulled muscle, or broken bone.
Has a distinct beginning and end. The cause of acute pain is known and, as you heal, the pain will lessen and finally go away.
Usually starts suddenly, may be sharp, and often triggers visible bodily reactions such as sweating, an elevated blood pressure, and more. Acute pain is generally a signal of rapid-onset injury to the body, and it resolves when pain relief is given or the injury is treated.
Chronic Pain: Lasts. Pain is considered chronic when it continues beyond the usual recovery period for an injury or an illness. It may be continuous or come and go.
Sometimes called persistent pain, can be very stressful for both the body and the soul and requires careful, ongoing attention to be appropriately treated.
Often intractable, as the cause of pain cannot be removed or treated.
It is actually possible to increase your level of functioning, and of quality life while reducing your sense of suffering. The key, like anything in life, is to have the right skills, support and direction. People with pain should build a relationship with a health care provider and their staff that can, if you are willing to take an active role, help you move from a patient to an active person. Pain management is an important part of effective total care.
Hospice Chautauqua County is dedicated to caring for patients and families facing terminal illness. Hospice offers a range of services through a team concept to meet the physical as well as the emotional needs of both the patient and the family.
If you are interested in finding out more information on Hospice Chautauqua County, please visit our website at hospicechautco.org or call 338-0033.