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1. How do I know if my pain is chronic?

2. Can I take an over-the-counter medication?

3. What if the over-the-counter medication doesn’t provide enough pain relief for my chronic pain?

4. What are some treatment options for chronic pain?

5. If I have on going daily chronic pain, could an extended-release prescription medicine be appropriate for me?

6. What are the side effects of these treatments?

7. Could I benefit from exercise, weight loss or physical therapy for my chronic pain?

How You Can Prepare for this Discussion

• Make sure you tell your doctor when the pain started and if there was an injury or problem in that area that preceded the pain.
• Try to be aware of when your pain is at it’s worst and when that pain subsides. It may help to keep a daily diary of your pain to help you discuss it with your doctor.
• Bring a list of any other medications you currently take, even ones that are unrelated to your pain management.
• If you tried over-the-counter pain relieving treatments in the past, be sure to tell your doctor what worked and what didn’t and any side effects you may have had.
• Keep a diary of the names, dosage and number of times per day you take medication for pain.
• Don’t be afraid to ask for further clarification if you don’t understand something.