5 Ways to Advocate for Yourself During a Pain Flare-Up

Joseph Roberts
Apr 28
3 min read

Updated: May 5

Let’s first set the scene: You're in the middle of a pain flare. Your body’s like “Surprise! We’re shutting down now.” You can’t think straight. You can barely move. And somehow you’re supposed to communicate clearly with a healthcare system that loves putting you on hold for 47 minutes?

Yeah. No thanks.

Advocating for yourself in the middle of all that sounds hard but we promise it’s possible. Even small things like a well-timed note can make a big difference. Here are 5 ways to speak up when your body is screaming and your brain has entered low power mode.

1. Get Specific With Your Pain Talk (No More “It Just Hurts”)

“I’m in pain” is totally valid, but being more specific can help your care team actually do something about it.

Try: “It’s a burning pain in my legs that gets worse when I stand. It’s an 8/10 right now, and I haven’t slept in two nights.”

Avoid: “It just really, really hurts, okay???”

Want to sound like a pro? Use the "PQRST" method (Provocation, Quality, Region, Severity, Timing). It helps providers figure out what's actually going on—and it shows you're not messing around.

2. Show the Receipts (AKA Your Pain Notes)

Whether you use Nanbar’s app, your phone’s notes, or even the back of a CVS receipt, track that pain.

Things to jot down:

When the pain started
What it felt like
What you were doing before it hit
What helped (or didn’t)
Any other symptoms (fatigue, nausea, etc.)

One 2022 study in JMIR found that symptom tracking actually improved communication and care outcomes. TL;DR: logging your pain = getting better

care, faster.

3. Have a Script for ER or Urgent Care Visits (Because Brain Fog Is Real)

Pain flares love showing up uninvited, especially at 3am. If you end up in the ER, having a quick script can save a lot of confusion (and frustration).

Try this: “Hi, I have [condition]. This is a flare. These meds prescribed by my specialist have helped before. These haven’t. Please don’t make me start from scratch.”

You can save it in your phone, scribble it on a sticky note, or write it on your hand like it’s a final exam. Just have it ready.

4. Call in Backup (AKA Your Pain Support Squad)

Advocating doesn’t mean going it alone. Sometimes it means texting your BFF’s like “Can you call my doctor? My body is doing jazz hands and my brain is a potato.”

Whether it’s a friend, partner, caregiver, or even our chatbot Willow, it’s 100% okay to ask for help getting your needs across.

5. Use Tools That Work For You, Not Against You

You don’t need another generic health app that forgets you exist. You need something built for the reality of living with chronic pain.

That’s where Nanbar comes in. Our app helps you track symptoms, identify triggers, forecast flare-ups and chat with Willow, our friendly, judgment free AI.

On the other side, your care team can see what’s going on in real time with our clinician dashboard so they’re not just guessing based on a 7-minute visit.