What not to say to your pain management doctor?

Asked by: Mrs. Blanche Farrell DVM  |  Last update: May 20, 2025
Score: 4.2/5 (41 votes)

Navigating Pain Management Conversations: Phrases to Avoid
  • “I Just Need a Stronger Prescription” ...
  • “My Pain is a 10 Out of 10 All the Time” ...
  • “I Don't Believe in Non-Drug Therapies” ...
  • “It's Just Minor Discomfort” ...
  • “That's Not Going to Work for Me” ...
  • “I Saw This Treatment Online…” ...
  • Describing the Type of Pain.

What not to tell a pain management doctor?

It's crucial to refrain from discussing anything your former doctor did or said while speaking with your pain management physician. This includes not talking about certain medical procedures, drugs, or diagnostic tests that have already been ordered or carried out.

How do you explain severe pain to a doctor?

How to Describe Your Pain to the Doctor
  1. Where do you feel the pain? Tell your doctor all of the areas you are experiencing pain. ...
  2. What kind of pain are you feeling? Please be as specific as you can. ...
  3. How often do you feel pain? Is it chronic or acute? ...
  4. How severe is the pain?

What should I say to my pain management doctor?

Give the doctor more detail than saying you're “always” in pain, or “sometimes” in pain. Try something like: "I always feel some aching pain in this spot, but it's worse in the early mornings and it lasts about an hour."

What is an often overlooked method for pain management?

One often overlooked aspect of pain management is the role of relaxation techniques. By incorporating these techniques into their daily routines, individuals can significantly reduce the intensity of their pain and improve their quality of life.

What To Do If Your Doctor Stops Prescribing Pain Meds

17 related questions found

What is the golden rule of pain management?

Timely intervention is the golden rule when it comes to pain management — getting help sooner rather than later is always the right choice.

What to do when chronic pain is unbearable?

How to manage a flare-up of chronic pain
  1. increase relaxation and mindfulness activities.
  2. prioritise your tasks.
  3. cut back on physical activities but do not stop altogether – some activity is better than no activity.
  4. acknowledge that although you may feel bad just now, the pain will pass.

What kind of pain is considered severe?

Severe pain is that which is disabling, preventing you performing normal activities during the day or night. At level 7, pain stops you sleeping. Either you can't get to sleep at all or it will wake you during the night, and keeping up with social relationships is very difficult.

What to do when your doctor ignores you?

If you feel like you're not being listened to, find a second opinion or ask the physician to refer you to a specialist. If all else fails, bring a trusted friend or family member to your appointments to help you make your case.

What do pain management doctors look for in a urine test?

This panel is designed to detect pain drugs including buprenorphine, fentanyl, meperidine, oxycodone, and tramadol. False negative results may occur if drugs are present below the tests limit of detection.

What is the most painful chronic pain condition?

CRPS is not a short-term pain that will heal in time. The most excruciating part is that the pain is long-term, and likely to be for life. In fact, CRPS is known as the world's most painful incurable condition.

How to argue with your doctor?

How to Respectfully Disagree with Your Doctor
  1. Be firm but polite. ...
  2. Express your concerns honestly and ask your questions about the diagnosis or treatment. ...
  3. Share why you disagree or what your concerns are. ...
  4. Ask the doctor to explain their reasoning and provide more information. ...
  5. Think of your healthcare as a partnership.

What to do when doctors won't treat your pain?

You will need to seek a new source of pain relief and, potentially, a new clinician. If possible, try to find a clinician who is knowledgeable about many different pain management options and is experienced with treating complex and serious pain.

How do you describe pain to a pain management doctor?

A crucial way to communicate your level of pain with your doctor is to talk about the functional impact it has on your day-to-day life. You may know how pain has changed your life in a larger sense; how it's made you a different person, or caused you to give up activities you loved.

How to be taken seriously by doctors?

5 things women can say so doctors take them seriously
  1. “I know my body and I know something is not right." ...
  2. “I think there's more to this than just what we discussed today." ...
  3. “This is not normal for me." ...
  4. "I appreciate your expertise." ...
  5. If you're prescribed a medication ...

How much pain is too much pain?

1 to 3: Mild and minor pain that's noticeable and possibly distracting. 4 to 6: Moderate to moderately strong pain that's enough to disrupt your normal daily activities. 7 to 10: Debilitating, intense pain that prevents you from living a normal life.

What is the most difficult disease to diagnose?

The following serious medical conditions are among the top ten most difficult diseases to diagnose.
  1. Sepsis. Sepsis is an onslaught of the body's natural reaction to serious infection. ...
  2. Pulmonary Embolus. ...
  3. Appendicitis. ...
  4. Compartment Syndrome. ...
  5. Post-Procedure Bowel Perforation or Injury. ...
  6. Lyme Disease. ...
  7. Necrotizing Fasciitis. ...
  8. Cancer.

What to do if your doctor is not taking you seriously?

Give feedback—and consider moving on. If you're not making any progress with your doctor after two or three visits, it's probably time to start looking for a new provider. It can also be helpful to speak up about what you've experienced—doing so could inspire change. “Write to [your doctor] directly,” Hester says.

What happens when you get dismissed from pain management?

The consequences of such discharge are far-reaching. Patients may face refusal for further prescription of medications, challenges in finding new care, and disruptions in continuous pain management.

When chronic pain becomes too much?

If you notice new or worsening pain, you should seek a prompt evaluation by a healthcare professional. When pain becomes persistent, it can quickly begin to interfere with many aspects of life, creating a vicious cycle.

Can doctors tell how much pain you are in?

Pain is, of course, the most subjective of all medical symptoms. There is currently no reliable and accurate method to objectively quantify the pain a patient is experiencing. One patient's “three” may well be another patient's “seven”.

What is level 7 pain?

7 = Strong pain. It keeps you from doing normal activities. 8 = Very strong pain. It's hard to do anything at all.

What should you not say to a chronic pain sufferer?

There are definitely things you shouldn't say to someone with chronic pain, such as: “You're in pain? Funny, you don't look hurt (or injured) at all.” “I noticed you've been hobbling around at work.

What happens when your body is in too much pain?

Chronic pain can cause changes in your brain and nervous system. These changes can cause the brain to continue to send out pain signals, even when there's no harm or damage. The signal pathway to the brain can become over sensitive meaning the signals are amplified.

What are usually the first signs of fibromyalgia?

The main symptoms of fibromyalgia are:
  • Chronic, widespread pain throughout the body or in multiple areas. Pain is often felt in the arms, legs, head, chest, abdomen, back, and buttocks. People often describe it as aching, burning, or throbbing.
  • Fatigue or an overwhelming feeling of being tired.
  • Trouble sleeping.