She's also involved in the Wisconsin Pain Initiative, a movement by health professionals to encourage better patient pain control. It formed in 1986, the first of what became many such groups around the country. The new standards, which require hospitals to systematically assess and treat patients' pain, and to educate staff on proper pain management, won't put an end to inferior pain management. For starters, not all pain is treated at hospitals. Chronic pain is much tougher, and many people are treated for that by family physicians or other outpatient health care providers.
Some examples are chronic lower back pain, nerve pain, shingles and certain chronic headaches.
Pain is an entirely subjective experience. We have no objective measure for pain. It's different in terms of the percent of relief you get. Often, attitudes get in the way. It doesn't make you a better mother.