What is a pain management plan?

A pain management plan spells out ways you can deal with your pain at home. You and your care team will create this plan before you leave the hospital. The plan may include:

• The goals of your treatment. This may include how you can expect your pain and function to improve.
• The treatments your doctor suggests for your pain. These may include medicines, physiotherapy, or relaxation exercises.
• Notes about how you and your care team will work together as you recover. Your team may include your doctor, a physiotherapist, and an occupational therapist.
• A review of your treatment goals for pain and function.

Your feelings about how you want to manage your pain are important. Be open and honest when you talk with your doctor. This will help ensure that you get a plan that is safe and that works best for you.

Why is it important to follow your plan?

After you have an injury or surgery, a certain amount of pain is common and normal. But you can manage your pain after you leave the hospital.

The best way to do that is to follow your pain management plan. This will help keep you comfortable and able to do the things you want to do. It can also speed your recovery and help reduce the risk of problems.

What are the side effects of pain medicines?

All pain medicines—like acetaminophen, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and opioids—have side effects, including allergic reaction, rash, and upset stomach. Common side effects of opioids also include constipation and being sleepy. More serious effects include needing larger doses over time, getting sick if you stop taking the drug, developing opioid use disorder, and death.

How do you manage pain after you leave the hospital?

After you leave the hospital, the best way to benefit from your treatment is to take good care of yourself. Here are some ways to do that.

• Try non-medical ways to relieve pain.

  These ways include breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation, yoga, meditation, and massage.

• Take your medicines or other treatments exactly as prescribed.

  Let your doctor know if your pain isn't getting better.

• Pace yourself.

  It might be hard to take it easy when you get home. But even simple activities can increase pain at first. Follow your doctor's instructions about when you can be active again and any activities you should avoid. When you do start getting back to your regular activities, start slowly.

• Arrange your home to help you recover.

  Here are some ideas:

  • Remove throw rugs to prevent falling.
  • Sleep close to the bathroom, or have a commode near your bed.
  • Have pillows near you so you can sit or lie in a comfortable position.
• Use tools that may help.

  Some devices may help you do your daily activities and be more mobile. These devices include walking canes, crutches, grab bars, and reachers.

• Try heat or cold.

  Heat can soothe muscle pain and other aches. Cold can help with swelling.

• Get support.

  Friends and relatives often want to help but don't know what to do. Let them know what you need. It will make them happy and will help you.

How do you take opioids safely?

Opioids can help you manage pain. But their use can lead to problems, like opioid use disorder and even death. Because of this, it is best to get off them as soon as possible. As soon as you don't need them, talk to your doctor about how to safely stop taking them.

If you need to take opioids to manage pain, this advice can help you stay safe.

• Take opioids exactly as directed.

  Follow the directions carefully. It's easy to misuse opioids if you take a dose other than what's prescribed by your doctor. Even sharing them with someone they were not meant for is misuse.

• Do not drive or operate machinery.

  Opioids may affect your judgment and decision making. Talk with your doctor about when it is safe to drive.

• Avoid alcohol, sleeping medicines, and muscle relaxers.

  Opioids can be dangerous if you take them with alcohol or with certain drugs like sleeping pills and muscle relaxers. The combination can decrease your breathing rate and lead to overdose or death. Make sure your doctor knows about all the other medicines you take, including over-the-counter medicines. Don't start any new medicines before you talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

• Ask your doctor or pharmacist about a take-home naloxone kit.

  It can help you—and even save your life—if you take too much of an opioid. You can get naloxone without a prescription at most drugstores or through a community Take Home Naloxone program.

How do you safely store opioid pills and patches?

It's important to store opioids safely so that they aren't used by the wrong person. Your pain medicine is only for you to take. If someone else takes your medicine, it can seriously harm or kill them.

You can safely store your medicine. Follow these tips.

• Store pills and patches up high and out of sight.
  • Keep them away from children, teens, visitors, and pets.
  • Return the container to the same place each time you take your medicine.
• Try locking your opioid medicine in a cabinet.
• Make sure the bottles are closed tightly.

  If they have a safety cap, make sure that it's locked. Tighten the cap until you hear a click or can't twist it anymore.

• Keep track of how many pills or patches you have left.

  You may want to keep track in a notebook.

• Let the people who live with you know about your medicine.
  • Tell them that it is only for you to take.
  • If guests have opioid medicine with them, ask them to keep it safe.

How do you get rid of opioid pills and patches safely?

If you have opioid pills or patches that you aren't going to use, get rid of them right away. It's also important to get rid of used opioid patches. Do not keep your opioid medicine or opioid patches for later use.

When you get rid of these medicines safely, you take away any chance that a person or an animal might get sick from one of them.

Health Canada recommends that you follow one of these steps.

• Bring your medicine to a pharmacy or a take-back program.
  • Visit www.healthsteward.ca to find take-back programs in your area.
• Throw the medicines in the trash.

  Take this step if you can't get to a pharmacy or a take-back program.

  1. Take the medicine out of its container.
  2. Mix it with something that tastes bad, like cat litter or coffee grounds.
  3. Place the mixture in a sealed plastic bag and put the bag in your household trash.
• Do not flush your medicine down the toilet or sink.
• Take special care with used opioid patches.

  As soon as you peel a patch off of your skin, fold it in half with the sticky sides together. Immediately take it to the pharmacy to safely get rid of it. Do not throw it in the trash.