Patient Education Colorectal Cancer: Your Care and Recovery | Page 28

Pain Management
Most people have some pain after surgery. It is important to have good pain
control and to be comfortable so that you can sleep, deep breathe, walk,
and visit with others. Keeping pain managed helps patients recover, avoid
problems like pneumonia, and heal more quickly.
You will be asked to rate your pain on a scale of 0 to 10. This will help us
know how your medication and other comfort measures are helping. You
can use a number or choose a face on this scale that best rates your pain.

0

1

2

3

4

5

No Pain

6

7

8

9

10

Worst Pain

We encourage you to be involved in your pain management after surgery.
If you do not feel your pain is controlled, please tell your nurse so that
adjustments can be made.

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