Learning About Making a Plan for Managing Chronic Pain

You and your doctor will work to make your plan. Your plan can include more than one way to manage your pain. You may take prescription or over-the-counter medicines. You can also use physical treatments, like massage and acupuncture. Other things can help too, such as meditation or a type of counseling to change how you think about your pain.

It's important to let your doctor know how your pain is affecting your life. The goal of your plan is to manage your pain well enough so that you can do the things you want to do.

If your pain isn't managed well enough, talk with your doctor. There are a lot of things you can try. As you find the treatments that are the most helpful, you and your doctor can adjust your plan.

Sample pain management plan

Here is an example of a pain management plan. You can work with your doctor to complete it.

My Goals

Example: "Control pain long enough to walk the dog each day" or "Reduce or stop taking pain medicines by the end of summer."

My Non-Medicine Strategies

Example: "Complete my physical therapy exercises each day" or "Do yoga twice a week."

My Medicines That Help With Pain

Include prescription and over-the-counter medicines.

My Next Steps

If I'm not meeting my goals, my doctor recommends:

Where can you learn more?

Go to http://www.healthwise.net/patientEd

Enter P490 in the search box to learn more about "Learning About Making a Plan for Managing Chronic Pain".

Current as of: October 1, 2025

Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff

Clinical Review Board
All Ignite Healthwise, LLC education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.

Current as of: October 1, 2025

Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff

The Health Encyclopedia contains general health information. Not all treatments or services described are covered benefits for Kaiser Permanente members or offered as services by Kaiser Permanente. For a list of covered benefits, please refer to your Evidence of Coverage or Summary Plan Description. For recommended treatments, please consult with your health care provider.