ACUTE SICKLE CELL PAIN

 
 

What is acute sickle cell pain?

Acute sickle cell pain is severe pain caused by sickled red blood cells blocking small blood vessels (also called vaso-occlusion or sickle cell crisis).

Certain stresses on the body like illness, dehydration, and changes in temperature can cause red blood cells to sickle.

It is important to try to control these stressors to lower the chances of having a pain episode. See the section called Wellness for information on managing these stressors.

 

Certain stresses on the body can cause red blood cells to sickle, like:

 
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ilLness

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DEHYDRATION

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CHANGES IN TEMPERATURE

 
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MANAGE YOUR PAIN AT HOME

A pain action plan describes how to manage sickle cell pain at home. Use your pain action plan as soon as the pain starts.

Call your provider if the pain does not get better, or gets worse even though you are using your pain action plan.

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Manage your pain at the emergency room

  • When you go to the emergency room, you will need to tell them about your pain. It is important that you know how to describe your pain and how to use a pain scale. See Talking About Your Pain for tips.

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manage your pain in the hospital

  • Talk with your provider about your pain level, especially if your pain does not get better with the pain medicines.

  • If you have a pain episode, you usually do not need a blood transfusion. Ask your health care provider to explain the need for blood transfusion if they recommend a blood transfusion when you are in the hospital for sickle cell pain. See the Blood Transfusion page for more information.

 
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Acute sickle cell pain checklist

For you and your health care provider

 
 

Make a plan:

🄯 Ask your provider about creating a written pain action plan that works for you.

In the emergency room:

🄯 If you have not used your pain action plan yet, then talk with the emergency room provider about starting your pain action plan.

🄯 If you have already tried your pain action plan, then talk with the emergency room provider about other options to control the pain.

If you are admitted to the hospital:

🄯 Talk with your provider about getting around-the-clock pain medicines to control the pain (given at set times, not just when you ask for them).

Blood transfusion:

🄯 Ask your provider to explain the need for blood transfusion if they recommend a blood transfusion when you are in the hospital for sickle cell pain.

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SECTION OVERVIEW

  • Start your pain action plan at home as soon as your pain starts.

  • If the pain continues or gets worse even though you are using your pain action plan, call your provider.

  • Talk to the emergency room provider or hospital provider about using your pain action plan or other options to control your pain.

  • Everybody who has a pain episode does not need a blood transfusion.