Preparing for an Appointment
It is important to be an active participant in your health care. You will get more from your appointment if you go prepared. Be ready to give your doctor the following information:
- How long you’ve had the pain
- Whether the pain came on suddenly or built up over time
- What makes the pain better and what makes it worse
- How strong the pain is on a scale of 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst possible pain)
- A list of the medicines you’ve taken for the pain—prescription, over-the-counter, and alternatives (including herbal, homeopathic, and naturopathic remedies)
- If you’ve had any nerve blocks (injections of a nerve-numbing substance that relieves pain in a localized area)
- If you have used any physical therapies or alternative treatments to manage your pain
- Any other health conditions you have that the doctor may not be aware of
- A list of all the medicines you currently take for conditions other than pain
You may find it helpful to write a list of your concerns/questions at home to bring to your appointment.
