Be ready.
Have a Pain Game Plan.
Alex Smith knows pain — and the importance of planning ahead
Selected as the first overall pick in the 2005 professional football draft, Alex Smith went on to enjoy a successful career as a quarterback, making a lasting impact on the league. Thirteen years later, he faced one of the most traumatic injuries in sports history, suffering a severe compound fracture and complications that nearly resulted in amputation of his leg. He underwent 17 surgeries and four separate hospital stays to repair the fracture, treat an infection and salvage his limb.
Against the odds, Alex made a miraculous comeback to professional football, officially retiring in 2021. Now, he is reflecting on the acute pain he experienced from his injury and in his early days of recovery — highlighting firsthand why creating a personalized Pain Game Plan matters.
The pain I didn’t plan for
“It's hard for me to find the adjectives to describe how much pain I was in, how excruciating it was — and anything that they were doing couldn't relieve it. Managing my pain was never something that I ever even considered.”
–Alex Smith
Pain can impact anyone, whether unexpectedly like it did for Alex, or for a planned event like a surgery or medical procedure. Reflecting on their experience, Alex and his wife, Elizabeth, learned how important it is to be proactive and ready with a pain plan.
“I didn’t know what things were supposed to look like. I didn’t know if Alex was supposed to take another pill if he was in pain. I wish I had the foresight to plan earlier on in the injury, but it was so sudden.”
–Elizabeth Smith, Alex's wife
Be prepared for the unexpected, like a broken bone or injury, or the expected, like a scheduled surgery. Create your own Pain Game Plan by using this planner that outlines some key actions:
Pain Game Planner
▢ Think about your past experiences with acute pain and the treatment options that worked or did not work
▢ Ask proactively about all acute pain management treatment options — including nonopioid options
▢ Consider your daily life and activities that are important to you, and how your treatment plan might impact them
▢ Have a thoughtful conversation with your Game Plan partner to make sure someone is on your team, advocating for you from start to finish
TIP: Copy and paste the Pain Game Planner to the notes app on your phone or share it directly with a loved one.