No one can see or feel your pain. It is your responsibility to ensure your doctor understands how you feel. Be assertive, make a list and be prepared.
What works to relieve your pain?
Describe ways you’ve learned to make your pain feel better. Some examples are using heat, moving your body a certain way, distracting yourself with television or taking nonprescription drugs like aspirin, acetaminophen, or ibuprofen.
Where do you feel your pain?
Describe all the painful areas.
What is your pain level?
Be descriptive about the pain you feel. Use words, like throb, ache, burn, or tingle. Is your pain mild, moderate, or severe? Are you constantly in pain? Does it vary in intensity? Do you know what, triggers your pain? Is your pain bearable, or is it excruciating? Is it excruciating all of the time?
What do you assume causes your pain?
Tell your doctor about what may have caused your pain including any injurys. What was going on in your life when your pain began? Had you been ill? Do you have a physical activity that causes muscle strain or nerve injury through repetitive motion, such as word processing, weight lifting, or wood carving?
How long have you been in pain?
Knowing this will help your doctor determine the best course of treatment.
What changes in your lifestyle have you endured due to your pain?
List out how your pain has affected your emotions and behavior. Has your pain affected your ability to work or perform routine tasks? which tasks are the most difficult? Has it made you feel angry, sad, worthless or alone? Has it affected the relationships in your life?
What medications have you taken in the past?
Write out any past experiences with pain medications and how well they worked. Make sure to include any side effects you experienced, particularly stomach upset, heartburn, or gastrointestinal distress.
Besides pain, what other medical conditions do you have?
Be thorough when you write out all your medical conditions.
Are you afraid of any pain medication? Do you have concerns about any medications?
It is normal to have concerns about side effects of different medications. make sure you list any you may have to discuss with your doctor.
Leave a Reply