New Doc Advice/New Pain Clinic

Just went over some "good advice" for new patients with my neurologist in my local clinic today (we're friends and I'm a regular at the clinic).

1) See a new doctor with a positive attitude. Don't be aggressive or defensive certainly not if you had bad experiences with other doctors (we all know about those ones).

2) Be honest and open. He/She can't help you if you keep thinsg back.

3) Anxiety often makes people forget what they wanted to say or ask. Write down, well in advance, everything you want to say and need to ask. COver each topic in detail and if necessary provide your doctor with a copy so he/she can follow your reasoning.

4) Write down a list of the meds you take and hand it over, this makes mistakes less likely.

5) If you need meds (not likely on your first appointment), make a list as well for your doctor.

6) Have a detailed medical history ready, if necessary of your relatices as well. Bring your latest test results and all those of times past that might be relevant.

7) Make sure you understand what kind of treatment your doctor proposes and make sure he/she explains the risks involved. Better to ask too many questions than miss a single crucial one.

8) Should your doctor recommend serious action be undertaken (surgery for example), and if time permits (which isn't always the case in let's say cancer patients), take the time to think things over and talk it through with your close ones.

That's it. Actually we got these points from an American medical journal we found lingering in one of the waiting rooms (we were looking for coffee) and thought it might be a got idea to translate them and hang up some copies in the hospital.

Morgoth covered it all.....

My only advice other than having your ducks in a row (medical records) is to be VERY HONEST.  Don't be one of those people (like my hubby) who try and down play your pain.  They can not help you with your pain if you don't tell them the real level its at.

Honesty will get you relief in the long run.

I wish you well

Laurie

Just like LL said  not to underestimate your pain, don't exaggerate it either. Don't claim that your pain levels are at a constant 10 or even a 10 more often than not, because the doctor is not going to believe you.  Be honest in what you can and can not do, what you hope to achieve with pain management ( not pain free- not going to happen if you have chronic pain).

Be willing to try what your PM recommends, even if you have already tried it before. He may have a different way of combining meds or suggestions that you haven't tried before. Be open to it. It might not have worked in the past, but as our pain levels fluctuate, you may find that a medication or therapy recommendation might work this time, at this point in your life. Don't discount PT or using ice or heat instead of pain meds at times or in addition to the pain meds.

Be open to suggestions of using electric stim or TENS units or other non invasive modalities in addition to the pain medications.

With the right combination of pain meds, and other treatments, you might be surprised at how some physical excercise , PT, TENs units, or other electric stim can be the right combination for you.

Sandi