When is pain relief enough??

Chronic pain patients dream of complete pain relief. However the fact of the matter is that total pain relief is probably an unrealistic goal.
For the last seven years, a multidisciplinary group of international experts has been meeting and working to develop recommendations for improving clinical trials of pain treatments. One important focus of this group – called the Initiative on Methods, Measurement, and Pain Assessment in Clinical Trials (IMMPACT) – has been on how effective treatments for chronic pain can be defined, measured and translated into meaningful outcomes for patients.
Studies found that most patients consider a satisfactory treatment, if they experience at least a 50 % reduction in their level of pain.
On a patients first Dr.'s visit I think it's important for the doctor and patient to discuss expectations and agree on realistic goals. If the patient is expecting complete pain relief but the doctor considers the treatment a success if there is a 50% reduction in pain, both are going to be dissatisfied. The patient will end up feeling like the doctor doesn't care about her pain and the doctor may start to think the patient is just looking for more drugs.

It's also a good idea from time to time to reassess your pain management plan, evaluating your progress and possibly setting new goals. When you first started pain management, you were probably happy with any sign of pain relief you could get. But after a while, you may feel that a 30% reduction in pain is just not enough to allow you to live your life as you need to and you want to try for better pain control. You doctor needs to know if your goals have changed so you both are aiming for the same target.