Keeping a pain diary

Have you ever considered keeping a pain diary? The American Geriatrics Society has made available this pain diary for people to keep track of how they are feeling, when, and what they did about it. Regardless of your age, it’s a great way to record your progress with pain.

Pain diaries are particularly useful for when you go to the doctor to review the pain program you are following. As well, if you are a family member who is caring for someone with pain, it gives you a written record, rather than having to rely on second-hand information or memories. Using the objective scale of 0 to 10 also helps out here.

If you want to give it a try, either print out this pain diary, or use it as a basis for one that suits your purposes. Having something concrete like this can help you realize small progress that might not otherwise be noticed – and it can help your healthcare provider understand better about when the pain is and how you’re coping.

Good luck!