How a carer can help
Carers can help with pain relief if they:
- Make sure that painkillers are taken regularly, even if there is no pain when they are due to be taken.
- Use other methods of pain relief such as gentle massage, heat pads and relaxation techniques.
You may want to know more information if the person you are caring for is taking morphine or if you have to give medication using a syringe driver.
Assessing pain
Pain should be assessed carefully so that the right medication can be given. Information you give will help the doctor or nurse decide what to do. So monitor the pain in terms of:
- Where is the pain and how far does it extend?
- Is it an aching, stabbing, burning or shooting pain?
- What makes it worse or better?
- How much do painkillers help and for how long?
- How many extra painkillers are being taken and do they help?
When to call for help
Contact the doctor or nurse for help in any of the following situations:
- when the pain gets worse or there is a new pain
- when sleep is disturbed by pain
- when the painkillers do not seem to be working very well or for very long
- when the painkillers cause troubling side effects, such as sickness, constipation, drowsiness or confusion
- any time that you are worried.
Alternative pain relief
Some pains are not relieved by oral medications. A doctor or nurse may refer the patient for physiotheraphy, nerve blocks, radiotherapy or massage. They may also make an appointment with a doctor who has specialised knowledge of pain control.
