Therapy goal | The pain diary

Therapy goal

Another area of application of a pain diary is the definition of therapy goals. Often, in the case of chronic pain, it is not possible to achieve complete freedom from symptoms. The goal is then to reduce the pain to such an extent that the person affected is restricted in his or her everyday life as little as possible.

The so-called individual treatment goal can be defined here. Since pain is felt differently from person to person, pain therapy should be tailored to the individual. For this purpose, the pain patient defines the individual treatment goal together with the doctor on the basis of the pain scale.

Thus the pain value is recorded, from which the pain is to be endured. The therapy is based on this value, so that the success of the pain treatment becomes more measurable. Even small progress becomes visible by keeping a pain diary, which otherwise might go unnoticed without regular recording of the pain conditions. In this way, the patient can be made aware that the treatment is worthwhile. This can also contribute to increased motivation for further therapy.

Therapy control

The pain diary is also used to control the effectiveness of a pain treatment. For this purpose, the pain diary should be brought along to every visit to the doctor. By recording the occurrence of pain conditions and all relevant influences, it is possible to assess the success of the therapy and plan further treatment.

The pain diary provides insights into the development of pain over a period of time. If the pain has improved or worsened, it can be analyzed whether there is a connection with new medication or special circumstances such as increased or decreased stress. If the affected person is often plagued by pain or if the medication is not working adequately, the doctor can consider whether it makes sense to switch to another painkiller.

A different dosage form can also be considered, as some painkillers can be used as plasters in addition to tablets. The patient himself learns about his pain by keeping a pain diary. In this way he can also recognize the factors that influence his pain positively and negatively and react accordingly.

It is important for the success of pain therapy that the therapy plan is adhered to. The taking of medication should not be stopped or changed without consulting the doctor. Other medications should also only be taken after consultation with the doctor. If side effects occur, the doctor should also be contacted before the medication is discontinued.