Make a plan to manage your pain
Creating a care plan for pain puts you — not your pain — in control of how you heal.
What to know about pain and healing
Pain can be a normal part of the healing process. If you’ve been injured or had surgery, you should expect to feel some pain. Pain is your body’s way of letting you know that it’s working to heal.
The goal of any pain reliever — whether a medication or alternative method — is not total pain relief. It’s to help you manage your recovery so you can get back to living your best life.
Assessing your pain
Your doctor may have you rank your pain on a scale from 1 – 10. You can also track how you’re feeling on your phone or in a day planner. Keeping track is especially helpful for pain management after surgery or injury. Consider how your pain affects your mood, sleep, and mobility. Notice changes over time and as you use tools from your pain management plan.
Questions to ask your doctor as you plan
Create your pain management plan
Once you've talked to your doctor, download the form to create a customized acute pain care plan. You can print this plan or email it to yourself, your caregiver(s), and/or your doctor. The information you include in your plan is private. We do not collect, store, or share your data.
