Patient-controlled analgesia is another method of pain control. By pushing a button on a computerized pump, you're able to give yourself a pre-measured dose of pain medicine infused with opiods. The pump is connected to a small tube that allows medicine to be injected intravenously (into a vein), subcutaneously (just under the skin), or into the spinal area. This is often used in the hospital to treat pain in post-traumatic or post-surgical pain as well as terminal cancer pain..