Introduction

The 'mypainfeelslike... questionnaire' is a useful resource to use if you are suffering from any kind of long-term or chronic pain. There are many potential pain treatment options available. In order to help you, your doctor needs to better understand your symptoms, the area and history of your chronic pain. The results of the completed 'mypainfeelslike... questionnaire' will provide you with a summary of the symptoms you are experiencing to help further discussion with your doctor. It is strongly recommended that you consult your doctor to obtain a correct medical diagnosis and discuss potential pain treatment options.

Can I get relief from my pain?

For effective relief from your chronic pain symptoms, it is important to get a correct diagnosis from your doctor. This will allow your doctor to decide which pain treatment options are best for you and your individual condition.

While there are many treatment options, e.g. medicines or pharmaceutical products that can relieve chronic pain, some work better than others in specific types of pain.

It is important that you don't give up if one or more treatments do not show the desired effect in pain relief. There are many treatment options available, so ask your doctor to try different treatments, some of which might have better efficacy and/or fewer side effects for your individual pain condition. Don't accept insufficient pain treatment. In 80% of cases, doctors over- or underestimate the level of pain-related impairment of their patients¹. So it is important to speak out if you are not satisfied.

Pharmaceutical treatment options

Some medicines or pharmaceutical products act throughout the whole body (called systemic pain treatment options) and are often taken orally as tablets or capsules. Systemic treatment options used for neuropathic pain or one of the various subtypes such as localised neuropathic pain may include anticonvulsants (also known as antiepileptic drugs or AEDs), antidepressants, and opioids.

Alternative treatment options

There are alternative treatment options for patients like electrical nerve stimulation (e.g. TENS), acupuncture, physical therapy (e.g. using heat therapy or physiotherapy), exercise, and even psychological methods of treatment. These can be used independently or together with pharmaceutical treatment options to alleviate pain.

There are also other treatment options for pain relief. If you have tried one or more options and had unsatisfactory pain relief or unpleasant side effects, talk to your doctor, because there are other options available.

Besides your General Practitioner, you may be referred to a Pain Consultant in your area. For more information and support, log on to www.chronicpain.ie or call their confidential helpline on 01 80447567.