My name is Melinda Johnson and I suffered with foot pain for many years. I went to see a podiatrist and after an examination, I was told that I had heel spur syndrome. I followed the recommendations of my doctor by doing at home treatments along with physical therapy. I was amazed at how much these treatments helped my foot pain. Living with pain can have a big impact on your life and that's why I started this blog. My foot pain kept me from doing many things that I enjoy and I want to help others who are going through the same situation. As you browse through my blog, you'll learn about home treatments, medical procedures and new advancements in medicine that can help reduce pain. It is my hope that by writing this blog, you can live pain free too.
Loving My Pain Free Life
Managing Chronic Pain: 4 Essential Communication Tips To Use With Your Doctor
Claire Roberts
Chronic pain is a health condition that affects many people. If you are suffering from chronic pain, it is important to have an open and honest relationship with your doctor. After all, communication plays an integral role in managing your pain. Whether you are switching doctors or are new to dealing with chronic pain, these four tips can help both you and your physician:
1. Keep a Health Journal
A health journal can be extremely helpful when it comes to managing your pain. You can use the journal to keep track of medications that help, as well as those that don't. You can also use the journal to keep track of how you feel on a day-to-day basis. Like a food journal, you might come to realize that there are certain triggers that make your pain worse. So if you don't already have a journal, start one now and be vigilant. At your next appointment, bring it with you and go over it with your doctor. Although simple, this tip can be hugely valuable.
2. Be Specific
When communicating with your doctor about your pain, be as specific as possible. Tell your doctor exactly where it hurts. Additionally, be sure to tell your doctor about anything that makes the pain worse. For example, if you have chronic pain your knee, show your doctor where on your knee it hurts. Additionally, perform the move that causes the pain to worsen. By knowing exactly where you are in pain—and what exacerbates it—your doctor will better be able to treat it.
3. Mention Other Symptoms
If you have chronic pain, it's likely that you have other symptoms affecting your life as well. Whether you're tired or suffer from mood swings, be sure to mention these to your doctor. Even if the other symptoms seem small, you should tell your physician. These symptoms might go hand-in-hand with your pain. But even if they don't, your doctor might be able to treat them as well.
4. Use the Pain Scale
Finally, make sure you use the pain scale when describing the severity of your pain. If you aren't familiar with the pain scale, don't worry. Most doctor's offices have it hanging on their wall. Next to each number, you'll see a short description. In general, the scale goes from 0-10; with 0 being no pain and 10 being unbearable.
Suffering from chronic pain can be debilitating. Use these tips to better communicate with your doctor, so that together you can come up with a pain management plan that works. For more information about pain management options you might try, visit websites like http://www.pottershouserx.com.
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