Communicating About Pain

Your role

Tell your doctor about the pain and your health problems. Be sure to:

• Mention all the medicines you take. This includes over-the-counter medicine. It also includes any herbs, teas, or vitamins you take. Be sure to also include any substances, such as marijuana or alcohol.

• Mention any pain relief methods you use. These may include massage or meditation.

• Measure pain as directed by your doctor.

• If your doctor asks you to, keep a diary of your pain. Record the treatments you are using and how well they work. You may also be asked to describe how strong your pain is on a scale of 0 to 10. Zero is no pain and 10 is the worst pain you can imagine. Be prepared to do this for your doctor.

• Follow your treatment plan as directed by your doctor. Tell your doctor how your treatment is working.

As pain gets better, you’ll feel better. Less pain means less stress on your body and mind.

Your doctor’s role

Your doctor will help you understand and manage pain. You will be told about your pain control choices. These will most likely include medicines. Choices like physical therapy and acupuncture may also help.