How to Talk to Your Healthcare Professional
Patient Resources for Pain Management
Talking to your healthcare professional about pain can be confusing and sometimes hard to do. View our featured videos to hear tips from patients who have been successful in getting their doctors or other healthcare professionals to listen and talk to them about their pain.
Listen to Andrea talk about being an advocate for herself in the doctor's office.
Pain is highly individualized. Symptoms and treatment results may vary among people with pain.
Listen to Kate talk about her team approach to pain management.
Pain is highly individualized. Symptoms and treatment results may vary among people with pain.
Tips for Talking with Your Healthcare Professional About Pain Management
The American Pain Foundation offers some tips to ask your healthcare professional when talking about your pain.
- Don't be afraid to speak up! Only you know the extent of your pain and how it affects your quality of life.
- Knowledge is power. There are a variety of drug and non-drug therapies (e.g., physical therapy, yoga, meditation) available to effectively control pain; these are typically used in combination. Ask your healthcare professional about ways to relax and cope with pain. Your pain may feel worse if you are stressed, depressed or anxious.
- Set realistic goals with your healthcare professional for things you most want to do, such as sleeping, working, exercising or enjoying sexual relations. Begin with the easiest goals first.
- Tell your healthcare professional what over-the-counter medications, vitamins and supplements you take, at what dose and how often. Also let him or her know about other personal health habits (e.g., smoking tobacco, alcohol use), which can interfere with some pain treatments and increase pain levels.
- Keep a pain journal to record the frequency and intensity of your pain. Use descriptive words, such as sharp, crushing, throbbing, shooting or tender in assessing pain. Also, take note of how well your treatment plan is working and what makes your pain worse or better.
- Write down questions you have before each appointment, and tell your healthcare professional if there is something you don't understand.
- Bring a relative or friend to your appointments for support and to help take notes and remember what was said.
- Find out about support groups and educational programs in your area or online.
- Reach out to supportive friends and family members when you need them.
- Know there will be good and bad days.
It is important to ask good questions when you visit with your healthcare professional. Here are some questions to consider:
- What could be causing my pain?
- What options do you recommend for treating my pain?
- What are the best medications for me and my pain management?
- How long will it take for my medication to work?
- What are the common side effects of this medication?
- Are there medicines that have fewer side effects but can still treat my pain?
- What other non-drug therapies or activities should I consider for pain management?
- What are realistic expectations for pain relief given my condition?
- When can I expect to see improvements?
- What can I expect from treatment?
- Who should I call in a pain emergency?
