Healthcare works best when providers and patients work together as a team. And just as with any other team effort, both players need to be on the same page. With that in mind, we encourage patients coming to KindlyMD for help with pain management to be completely open and transparent with providers.
Whether you are seen by a doctor or advanced practice nurse, your provider needs to know as much as possible about your situation. No bit of information, regardless of how insignificant it might seem, is completely without value. That is why providers ask so many questions. It is why they write so many things down.
Pain management providers obviously want as much information about your pain as possible. They want to know where you feel it and how intense it is. They want to know the quality and type of pain. For instance, is it a dull pain, or is it burning or throbbing?
Do not be afraid to tell your provider about factors or conditions that might worsen your pain. Feel free to discuss your pain patterns – i.e., constant pain or intermittent episodes.
Honesty is critical here. Your healthcare provider is not there to judge based on what you talk about. But they do need accurate information to help you make good decisions about your treatment plan. So don't downplay or exaggerate your pain. Keep it real.
A big part of pain management is helping restore function. As function is restored, pain can be alleviated. Your healthcare provider really needs to know the details of your day-to-day functioning in order to address how to improve it.
Discuss everything from your daily activities to your quality of life. Explain how pain impacts work and leisure. Talk about how it affects your sleep, your mood, and even your relationships.
Patients new to pain medicine should be extra diligent about informing their providers of any previous treatments. Your pain management provider wants to know what therapies you have already tried and how well they worked.
Along those same lines, your provider needs to know about any therapies you currently use. This includes everything from prescription medications to complementary therapies, and even illicit drugs. Your provider needs to know as much as possible so as to avoid negative interactions and uncomfortable side effects.
Also in this category is your medical history. Other conditions you have, or may have had, could be contributing factors to your pain. Any family history of pain conditions is also relevant to your case.
Be sure to talk with your pain management provider about your normal lifestyle. Why? Because certain lifestyle factors can contribute to, or alleviate, pain. Your provider wants to focus on those lifestyle choices that help you feel better. If some of your lifestyle choices are aggravating your pain, your provider is likely to recommend avoiding them.
Finally, your pain management provider really needs to know about your goals and preferences. What are you hoping to get out of pain medicine? What are your preferences in terms of traditional, alternative, and complementary therapies? We want you to be in control of your healthcare. And that includes aligning on your goals and preferences.
Pain management providers ask lots of questions. They do so because patient answers inform their understanding of how to proceed. As a patient, you can help increase the chances of a positive outcome by offering as much information as you can. The more information you can provide, the better the collaboration between you and your provider.
