FROM THE EDITOR'S PEN /
Detective
Caregiver
/
Editorial List
One of the most challenging aspects to caregiving is
watching as the ones we love deal with intense or chronic
pain. The emotional pain we feel in response to their
suffering is understandably unimaginable. Yet, the
truth is that these are the times when we most need to be
fearless advocates and the in-home representative of our
loved ones professional care team. Act as detective
and find out a few pertinent things to share with the
medical professionals:
- Where does it hurt?
- Is this a new pain or one that you have experienced
before?
- On a scale of 0 – 10, what is the severity?
- Did the pain first occur after eating any specific
foods or performing any specific actions?
- What usually makes the pain subside?
- Have you taken action which usually makes the pain
subside (rest, medications, bathe?) Did it help?
Pain can be caused by many healthcare challenges that our
loved ones face (cancer,
AIDS, or even
OIC (opioid-induced constipation) which can develop in your
taking opiates for extreme pain. To help you as you
help your loved ones through extreme pain, Caregiver.com has
added many new information channels dealing with pain
management.
Obviously, in many cases, asking questions about your
loved ones pain may be impossible due to their level of
ability to communicate, these are the times when you really
need to become – Detective Caregiver on the case.
Gary Barg
Editor-in-Chief
gary@caregiver.com
