One of the essential parts of hospice care is pain management. Because hospice’s goal is to maximize comfort and minimize pain, pain management methods are of the utmost importance. In addition, because each patient is different in their needs and lifestyles, we manage pain will differ from patient to patient. Luckily, we are happy to adapt our care plans to each patient’s needs within reason. This blog will cover some of our patients’ most common pain management techniques.
Pain Management Through Medication
Using medication to manage pain is very common in the United States. Suppose medication is the patient’s preferred method of managing pain. In that case, we will work with them and their primary care physician to find the most appropriate medication for them. However, many patients do not want to use medication as their primary form of managing their pain. Further, some patients are not capable of taking medication. In either case, we have several other methods of managing pain that don’t involve medication at all.
Massage Therapy
Massage therapy is one of the most popular forms of pain management we offer at Aspire Home Health and Hospice. When we massage our patients’ tissues, muscles, and joints, they experience relaxation and relief from pain. Massage therapy also has the effect of helping the patient feel special and cared for on an individual level, which helps boost their morale and make them feel happy.
Physical Therapy
Usually, physical therapy aims to help a patient recover from an injury or surgery. But, as Aspire Home Health and Hospice, we’ve found that it is also an effective method of managing pain! Helping our patients engage in small, goal-oriented movements helps them manage their pain and achieve self-actualization.
This list is, by no means, exhaustive. We use many more forms of pain management for our patients. If you’d like to learn more, give us a call today!
