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    What You Should Know About Pain

    At Sutter Maternity & Surgery Center, we will work with you to relieve your pain. Your comfort is important to us and we will frequently ask you if you are experiencing any pain.

    Facts and Tips About Pain  |  Patient's Pain Care Bill of Rights

    Facts and Tips About Pain

    • Relieving pain is healthier than enduring the stress of unrelieved pain.
    • Pain control can help you to enjoy greater comfort while you heal. You will get well faster and become active sooner.
    • Do breathing exercises and you will get your strength back faster.
    • Ask for pain medicine when the pain starts. Controlling pain is easier before it becomes severe. There is no “correct” amount of pain. The amount or type of pain you feel may not be the same as others even if they had the same procedure.
    • You may set a pain control goal. We will try to keep your pain below 4 on the scale below. Reporting your pain as a number helps us know how well your treatment is working.
    • Becoming dependent on pain medicine is extremely rare. Taking medications after surgery does not create medication dependence.
    • Practice relaxation methods before surgery. This will help you to be able to use them after surgery.
    • Types of anesthesia may include local, spinal, epidural or general.

      An anesthesiologist will call you to discuss these options before surgery. Methods for delivering pain medications may include intravenous medication, injection or oral medications. Ask your doctor about the specific plan to control your pain during and after your delivery or procedure.

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    Patient's Pain Care Bill of Rights

    Please read the following "bill of rights" information and communicate with your doctor and nurse any time you are having pain.

    1. Describe your pain with expectation that the description will be understood and respected as the best indicator of your pain.
    2. Be apprised of all information and options in order to be an active participant in the development, implementation, evaluation and revision of your pain care plan.
    3. Receive pain care that is administered with respect and dignity by competent professionals who consider you to be a unique individual worthy of compassionate care.
    4. Expect that all reasonable safety and security measures will be taken in the provision of pain care services.
    5. Receive pain care that is monitored and evaluated on an ongoing basis to continually improve the quality of care delivered.
    6. Request alternative pain care approaches.
    7. Request or refuse revision of the current pain care plan.

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