The American Pain Foundation has a great list of 10 ways to get better medical care on its website. Here’s a preview:
- Identify your top concerns, questions, and symptoms.
- Manage expectations; most pain issues will not be resolved in a single visit.
- Keep follow up appointments.
- Continued at APF…
Readers, what other tips do you have?
Reminder: November Pain-Blog Carnival submissions due by Friday, 11/21.
4 responses so far ↓
Lynn // Nov 14, 2008 at 5:24 pm
Tell your provider the “whole” story–not just what you want them to hear or think they want to hear. If you are having work, family or personal issues, tell them. If you are taking more/less meds than prescribed, tell them. If you are anxious/depressed, tell them. They aren’t mind readers and can’t possibly remember everything from your last appointment but they will help you if you give them all the details, even if you don’t think they are “that important”.
How to Cope with Pain // Nov 14, 2008 at 8:41 pm
Lynn, excellent suggestions!
Esther // Nov 16, 2008 at 8:30 am
If it’s ok with them, faxing questions ahead of time or even if I would’ve called with a question often has been helpful.
How to Cope with Pain // Nov 16, 2008 at 4:34 pm
As a physician, this would be helpful to me. It would give me a chance to consider complicated questions, and I can jot a note in a patient’s chart to discuss an issue at the next visit.
Another time to say “I’d like to discuss…” is at the end of one visit, to prepare for the next one.
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