Article - You have chronic pain: Now what?

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You have chronic pain: Now what?

After years of uncertainty, you've finally learned what's causing your

discomfort. Perhaps it's arthritis, fibromyalgia or any number of

conditions. The result is the same. It's chronic.

Knowing the source of your pain isn't enough to alleviate your discomfort.

There aren't any quick fixes for chronic pain. And often, there's only so

much doctors can do. You're the key ingredient. If you want your life to

improve, you need to take steps to manage your pain.

Understand your role

The first and most important step in controlling your pain is accepting the

fact that you may always have pain. Some people can significantly reduce or

eliminate their pain. But if you're like most people with chronic pain, your

pain always will be a part of your life.

Managing chronic pain isn't about making your pain disappear. It's about

learning how to keep your pain at a tolerable level. It's about enjoying

life again, despite your pain. And it's about accepting that only you can

control your future.

Find the right doctor

Being in charge of your pain doesn't mean that you can't or shouldn't look

for help from others. A doctor can be especially helpful when you have

questions or need assistance. But make sure it's a doctor who understands

your condition and communicates well with you.

The right doctor for you could be your family physician or a specialist who'

s overseeing your condition. Or you may want to see a physician or a

psychologist who specializes in pain management. If you're not sure where to

find a pain specialist, ask your doctor to refer you to one.

When selecting a doctor, in general, look for someone who has these

characteristics:

* Is knowledgeable about chronic pain

* Wants to help

* Listens well

* Makes you feel at ease

* Encourages you to ask questions

* Seems honest and trustworthy

* Allows you to disagree

* Is willing to talk with your family or friends

* Has a positive attitude toward life and your condition

Before selecting a new doctor, however, check with your health insurance

provider to make sure that the doctor is covered under your policy.

Learn about your condition

Finding the right doctor isn't the end of your job. It'll take teamwork to

manage your pain. To make this easier, make an effort to learn all that you

can about your condition and your pain. One place to start is with the

information provided in this Pain Management Center.

In addition, check the reference areas at your local library for medical

dictionaries, books on health topics and health magazines. You also can

browse through the health section in your local bookstore.

It's important to be informed about your health, but don't overdo it.

Spending too much time reading about your condition or discussing your pain

can be counterproductive. It draws your attention to your pain, instead of

away from it.

Describe your pain

Accurately describing your pain will help your doctor learn about the

pattern of your pain, make a diagnosis, plan treatment and follow your

progress. You can help in advance of your doctor's appointment by preparing

yourself to answer these questions:

* Where is the pain located?

* How long have you had pain?

* Does the pain come and go or is it continuous?

* How long does the pain last?

* What makes the pain better?

* What makes the pain worse?

* What is the intensity of the pain? You may be asked to rate your pain

on a scale of 0 to 10, with 0 indicating that you have no pain at all and 10

indicating that the pain is the worst possible.

* What does the pain feel like? You can use words such as stinging,

penetrating, dull, throbbing, achy, nagging or gnawing. Be as specific and

descriptive as possible.

* Has the pain changed since your last visit with your doctor?

* What medications or treatments have you tried for the pain? How

effective were they?

Set goals

Everybody differs in the amount of pain that they can tolerate. A level of

pain that is unbearable for you might be acceptable to another. Your doctor

may help you determine your tolerance for pain by having you rate your pain

on a pain intensity scale. Then you can set a goal for where you'd like to

be.

For instance, if you rate your pain as 6 out of 10 on average and you decide

you can tolerate 3 out of 10, then you and your doctor have a more tangible

goal to work toward. You may not be able to get your pain level down to a

zero, but usually you can make progress.

Focus on one pain problem at a time. For example, you may have both back and

knee pain, but your back pain is worse. Start by treating your back pain and

then, once your back pain is tolerable, work on your knee. The time it takes

to reach your goal depends on your diagnosis, but people often see progress

during the first several months. After that, you may work toward a general

pain management goal.

Understand your treatment

Continue to be involved in your care when your physician recommends specific

treatments for you. Ask why certain treatments are being proposed and find

out their risks, benefits and alternatives. Be careful about accepting

medications, injections or other recommendations without being aware of what

each entails. Any intervention brings a chance of both benefits and

complications. Talk with your doctor to ensure that the balance is in your

favor.

Expect to commit some time to the treatment process. You may try a variety

of treatments before your doctor finds one that works for you, so don't

become

discouraged if the first treatment isn't as effective as you had hoped. Your

doctor may adjust your treatment over time, as he or she monitors how your

body reacts to various regimens. People usually make progress in the first 2

to 3 months.

Maintain contact with your primary doctor

If you do seek specialized pain treatment, usually through a pain clinic or

pain center, stay in touch with your primary care doctor. Your pain

physician focuses on your chronic pain and generally won't monitor other

health concerns that you may have or make sure that you receive routine

health screenings, such as a mammogram or a prostate exam. Your primary care

doctor manages your overall health.

Make sure your primary care doctor and your pain physician communicate

openly. They both should know what pain medication you're taking, who's

prescribing it and if you're taking additional medications unrelated to your

pain. This decreases the chances of overdose or negative interactions

between medications.

Ask your pain physician to send a copy of your records back to your primary

care doctor. Often pain physicians will prescribe and adjust medications

while determining the correct combination and dosage. Once you're on a

stable regimen, your primary care doctor can provide ongoing prescriptions.

This allows your primary care doctor to ensure that your medications and

therapies are all compatible.

Take control

Most importantly, take responsibility for your pain. Don't become

emotionally dependent on your physician. He or she should be compassionate

but not overly

sympathetic or enabling. Your doctor or pain physician can help you learn to

manage your pain, but ultimately you're the one in control.

By Mayo Clinic staff

[Guest guest]

> You have chronic pain: Now what?

>

Find the right doctor

When selecting a doctor, in general, look for someone who has these

> characteristics:

>

> * Is knowledgeable about chronic pain

> * Wants to help

> * Listens well

> * Makes you feel at ease

> * Encourages you to ask questions

> * Seems honest and trustworthy

> * Allows you to disagree

> * Is willing to talk with your family or friends

> * Has a positive attitude toward life and your condition

Wouaou Jill unbelievable timing!!! Just what I needed. I find it very

educating for me, this article will help me in my search for a doctor.

Thanks I now have not only one but three grate Articles to read and

kill the time until the morning comes and my husband wakes up. Thank

you again!!!

Tia

[Guest guest]

> You have chronic pain: Now what?

>

Find the right doctor

When selecting a doctor, in general, look for someone who has these

> characteristics:

>

> * Is knowledgeable about chronic pain

> * Wants to help

> * Listens well

> * Makes you feel at ease

> * Encourages you to ask questions

> * Seems honest and trustworthy

> * Allows you to disagree

> * Is willing to talk with your family or friends

> * Has a positive attitude toward life and your condition

Wouaou Jill unbelievable timing!!! Just what I needed. I find it very

educating for me, this article will help me in my search for a doctor.

Thanks I now have not only one but three grate Articles to read and

kill the time until the morning comes and my husband wakes up. Thank

you again!!!

Tia

[Guest guest]

> You have chronic pain: Now what?

>

Find the right doctor

When selecting a doctor, in general, look for someone who has these

> characteristics:

>

> * Is knowledgeable about chronic pain

> * Wants to help

> * Listens well

> * Makes you feel at ease

> * Encourages you to ask questions

> * Seems honest and trustworthy

> * Allows you to disagree

> * Is willing to talk with your family or friends

> * Has a positive attitude toward life and your condition

Wouaou Jill unbelievable timing!!! Just what I needed. I find it very

educating for me, this article will help me in my search for a doctor.

Thanks I now have not only one but three grate Articles to read and

kill the time until the morning comes and my husband wakes up. Thank

you again!!!

Tia