When parts of your body throb, cramp, or tingle, they may be signs of acute pain. This type of pain could be due to an injury or infection that requires surgery, resulting in discomfort that could last as little as a week or as long as three months. But a new National Council on Aging pain management guide shows why the road to effective pain relief starts before you even go under the knife.

“Acute Pain Management: A Guide to Managing Your Pain Before and After a Medical Procedure” lays out a series of recommendations that:

• Promote transparency with health care providers about your pain tolerance
• Provide tools to help you clearly describe your pain
• Detail drug medications and their side effects, as well as non-drug therapies like acupuncture to reduce pain as you heal

The guide includes questions to ask your health care team before your surgery, such as:

• “What type of pain am I in for?”
• “How long will my pain last?”

And the guide includes questions you might be asked about your current medications and past experiences with pain relief management, including issues with substance abuse. There are even examples of gentle balance and strength training exercises you can do pre-surgery to help reduce future pain for a smoother recovery.

Because your pain before surgery may feel much different afterward, the guide offers different pain scales to rate your discomfort based on your ability to carry out everyday tasks. After a hospital discharge, you can stay prepared for pain relief at home with a guided checklist that makes sure you don’t leave without:

• Detailed directions on how to take prescribed medications
• Confirmation your pharmacy has your medications ready for pick up
• Instructions on how to properly store your medicine

The guide also helps you assess next steps with your physician if your pain transitions from acute pain to chronic pain that lasts several months or longer.