I am in a lot of pain. Can I have something for the pain?
DOL-o-re — three syllables. 'Molto dolore' — a lot of pain. 'Analgesico' is the medical term if you need it: a-nal-JE-zi-ko.
Ask the nurse or doctor during hospital treatment. Pain management is a patient right in Italian hospitals.
'Molto dolore' = a lot of pain. 'Posso avere' = can I have. Pain management ('gestione del dolore') is a recognised patient right under Italian Law 38/2010, which mandates adequate pain relief in all Italian healthcare settings. Do not be stoic — tell the healthcare team exactly how much pain you are in, ideally on a 0-10 scale.
Da zero a dieci, il dolore è nove.
On a scale of zero to ten, the pain is nine.
Numeric rating scale — used universally in Italian hospitals
L'antidolorifico non fa effetto.
The painkiller is not working.
Report inadequate pain control — they can adjust the medication
Posso avere la morfina? Il dolore è insopportabile.
Can I have morphine? The pain is unbearable.
Strong opioids are used in Italian hospitals for severe pain — ask if needed
Italian Law 38/2010 ('Legge sulle cure palliative e la terapia del dolore') established the right to adequate pain relief as a patient right. It also legalised the use of strong opioids for pain management, which were previously very restricted in Italy. Italian hospitals are required to monitor pain as a 'quinto segno vitale' (fifth vital sign) — alongside blood pressure, pulse, temperature, and breathing rate.