McAllen Medical Center Opens New Pain Management Center
McAllen Medical Center started a Pain Management Program in January of 2000. The program was started to increase awareness of pain management and communicate the hospital's commitment in becoming sensitive to their client's pain. By stating their commitment in becoming a pain sensitive facility and educating their employees on current pain management assessment skills, the facility shows its commitment to the Valley and its people.
 
The Nurses and Physicians role in pain management
When you are admitted to any of the hospital's nursing units, your pain level is assessed on admission and every four to eight hours thereafter. The following scales are used to help the physician and nurse measure your pain level. If you experience pain during your hospital stay, the nurse will ask you to measure your pain on a scale of 0 to 10. These are the different scales that will be used. The nurse shows the patient both of these scales. These scales can be found in all patient rooms. The nurse wilt ask you either by the numeric scale or the face scale to measure your pain from 0 to 10. Zero (0) meaning no pain up the scale to 10 being the worst pain possible. They will teach you how the scales are read and when you ask for pain medication, you can tell your nurse "My pain level is at a 6, can I have my pain medication?"
 
Your role in Managing Your Pain
The best way to manage your pain, after learning how to use the scales, is to find a pain level that is comfortable for you and use that number as a "comfort goal". Any time you go beyond your "comfort goal" you know it's time for your pain medication. For example' if you set your "comfort goal" at a level 3, any time you have pain and it is 3 or below, you should be comfortable. But anytime it gets above a 3, you should ask for pain medication to bring it down to a your "comfort goal" level. Please remember that the higher your pain level, the longer it will take to bring it down to a comfort level. So, please measure your pain periodically, do not wait for the nurse to ask you what your pain levee is at. Take pain medication before you start your walking or exercising with Physical Therapy. This may help speed up your recovery.

Once Again McAllen Medical Center's staff is committed to helping you manage your pain during your hospital stay whether in-patient or out-patient. Patients of all ages and settings at McAllen Medical Center have the right to the following:

• Have their pain assessed systematically and thoroughly,
• Have their pain managed according to the most current accepted standard,
• Be informed and involved in all decisions regarding all aspects of their pain care.

Appropriate diagnoses that are treated at The Pain Management Center include, but are not limited to the following:

• Disorders of the Spine (cervical, thoracic, lumbar and disc disease)
• Post Surgical Pain
• Cancer Pain
• Traumatic Head Injuries
• Cervical Strain
• Myofascial Pain Syndrome - Trigger Points
• Post MVA - Cervical Strain
• Radiculopathy (lumbar, cervical, thoracic)
• Peripheral Nerve Injury (shoulder, arm, hand, leg or foot)
• Complex Regional Pain Syndrome caused by Sympathetically Maintained Pain
• Peripheral Neuropathy
• Herpes Zoster and Postherpetic Neuralgia
• HIV related pain
• Post Amputation Pain / Phantom Limb Pain
• Lumbar or Cervical Facet Arthropathy
• Sacroiliac Joint Pain
• Abdominal Pain
• Facial Pain (TMJ, Neuromas, Atypical Facial Pain)
• Central Pain Symdromes (after stroke)
• Post Spinal Cord Injury Pain and Spasticity
• Headaches (vascular, cluster, paroxysmal hemicrania, mixed, musculogenic, occopital neuralgia, cervicogenic)
• Groin Pain