Text Box: OUR COMMITMENT TO PAIN MANAGEMENT Mission To include patient/family involvement in all aspects of care and care decisions, including pain management. Rights You have the right to expect: Information about pain and pain relief measures. Concerned staff dedicated to pain prevention and optimal pain management. Caregivers who respond with timeliness to reports of pain. Reports of pain will be believed. Responsibilities You have the responsibility to: Help your physician and caregiver assess pain. Tell your physician or nurse if pain is not relieved. Discuss pain relief options. Ask for pain relief when pain first begins. Work with your physician or nurse to develop a pain management plan. Ask your physician or nurse what to expect regarding pain management. Tell your physician or nurse about any worries you have about taking pain medication. What is Pain? Pain is a sensation that hurts. It may cause discomfort or distress or agony. It may be steady or throbbing. It may be stabbing, aching, or pinching. Because pain is so individual, only you can describe it or define it. Can Anxiety or Depression Cause Pain? No, but these feelings can make the pain seem worse. People often have an emotional reaction to pain. You may feel worried, depressed, or easily discouraged when you are in pain. Some people feel hopeless or helpless. Others feel alone or embarrassed, inadequate or angry, frightened or frantic. What Do I Tell Those Caring for Me about My Pain? If you are feeling pain, you need to be able to describe it to those who are trained to help you. Some people find pain very hard to explain. Try to use words that will help others understand what you are feeling. Your doctor and others who are caring for you need to know: