Recognizing and managing pain and discomfort There may be times during your illness when pain is present. This pain may be related to the disease, anxiety or fear. Only you know how it feels and can adequately describe this pain. Whatever the cause may be for the pain, you do not need to suffer. When pain is present, your life can be affected in many ways—loss of appetite, inability to sleep, restlessness, anger, withdrawal or exhaustion. There also may be other reasons for these behaviors, as well as other causes for the discomfort—arthritis or headaches. Our nurses and physicians are specially trained in pain management and will work together to ease your pain and discomfort. Use the patient/caregiver pain education tool to help you understand what to expect, as well as identify your pain level and report it to your nurse.

• Follow the physician’s orders and take your medicine as directed.
• If needed, “breakthrough” pain medicine will be ordered, to be taken in addition to your regularly scheduled doses of pain medicine (ask your nurse to further explain this).
• Monitor your supply of pain medicine, and promptly let your nurse know when you need more.
• Call the 24/7 Patient Priority Line, 904.407.7300, immediately to speak to a nurse to report any new problems, pain that is not relieved, or if side effects like vomiting, nausea, rash, dry mouth, constipation or increased sleepiness occur. Please have your Patient Security Code available.
• While taking strong pain medication, you may experience constipation, drowsiness, nausea, vomiting or itching. Your team nurse will assist you to make you as comfortable as possible.

It is important to call to see how the pain can be relieved. Our specially trained nurses and physicians will work together to ease this discomfort.

Patient/Caregiver Pain Education Tool

Medication Management