If you are experiencing moderate to severe pain, whether chronic or due to an injury or medical condition, you can ask your primary-care physician for a diagnosis and possibly a pain medication.If doctors think that you are abusing prescription medication or exaggerating the effects of your pain, they may be less likely to approve your request for pain medication.To make a successful request, describe your pain on a 1–10 scale, be specific, and clarify if there are certain circumstances that cause the pain to increase or decrease.
Step 1: You can schedule an appointment.
If you can't control your pain with over-the-counter medication, you should schedule an appointment with your doctor.You need to call the doctor's office main phone number and speak with the receptionist to make the appointment.If your doctor's office is not currently open, you may need to have a friend or family member take you to an emergency room or urgent care facility.
Step 2: Tell the doctor if you are taking over-the-counter or prescription pain meds.
If you request an extension of an existing prescription, your doctor will request this information as well.If you take any over-the-counter medication, make sure you tell your doctor about it.It is important to be careful with which drugs you take because they can have harmful side effects.
Step 3: Other activities can be done to relieve pain.
If you have tried any non-medical means of alleviating pain, your doctor will want to know if those methods have produced successful results.Let your doctor know if you have tried any of the non-medical pain-relief techniques.If the problem can be alleviated through non-medical means, doctors will be less likely to prescribe a pain medication.
Step 4: If possible, describe the location of the pain.
If your descriptions are vague, your doctor won't be able to diagnose your pain, understand the root of the symptoms, or prescribe an effective pain medication.Tell your doctor where the pain is on your body, and if it travels or moves from one location to another, be precise about that as well.Instead of saying that my back hurts, say something like, "I feel pain between my shoulder blades, and sometimes a stabbing feeling shoots up my neck."
Step 5: How your pain feels is conveyed in precise language.
There is a wide range of symptoms that can be covered by the term "Pain."Descriptive terminology can help your doctor better understand your pain.Your doctor will be able to prescribe a helpful pain medication if he or she understands the experience of pain that you are going through.If the source of your pain is consistent with an acute injury or a chronic medical condition that you suffer from, your doctor will most likely only prescribe you pain medication."Dull", "aching," "Throbbing," or "shooting" are words that can be used.
Step 6: You can rate your pain on a scale.
It is difficult to communicate pain to a doctor.To help your doctor understand the severity of your pain, describe it using a 1–10 scale.It is a very mild pain.There is a slight sore throat and a severe pain.The worse you have ever experienced.Say something like, "When I first wake up, my neck pain is mild, maybe a 3."It has become much worse by the time I get to bed.
Step 7: Your doctor should have your medical documents.
Important parts of your medical history need to be shown to your doctor.If you have had a severe injury or condition, your doctor will be more likely to prescribe pain medication.If you have a joint disease or an injury, your doctor will evaluate your potential need for pain medication and what type is best for you.
Step 8: Tell me the duration and Frequency of your pain.
As your doctor tries to diagnose the cause of the pain, this information will be helpful.Understanding the amount of time that your pain lasts for and how frequently it occurs will allow your doctor to prescribe the most effective pain medication.Even if both of the pains are similar, a brief, infrequent pain may have a different cause than a long- lasting, constant pain.Both an 8The severe headaches only last for about 15 or 20 minutes at a time.They happen three or four times a day.I am in serious pain.
Step 9: The psychological effect of your pain.
It is important for your doctor to understand how your pain is affecting your life.This will increase the chances of the doctor writing you a prescription.If you discover that your pain is interfering with your ability to lead a normal life or perform daily functions, tell your physician.Say something like: "The pain in my back has prevented me from being able to do some everyday activities that I never used to struggle with, like driving and working out." "My pain is so intense that some days it's not even worth getting out of bed."
Step 10: Don't develop a drug dependency.
Pain medications are potent and can be habit-forming, which is why doctors are hesitant to prescribe them.Opioid-based pain medications can be used by users.There are two drugs, Vicodin and oxycodone.The risk of developing a dependency is high with the drugs.A potentially fatal overdose can result from a prescription drug dependency.