Making time to see your provider annually is important to maintaining your health.
Ways you can set yourself up to feel confident and prepared for your visit:
- Know your health goals
- Write down questions ahead of time
- If possible, get your blood drawn in time to visit with your doctor about your results
- Bring a list of medications and how/why you are taking them
- Keep notes of symptoms as you experience them
- Mention any changes to your mental or physical health
- Understand and be prepared to share your family medical history
- Understand how your insurance works, if you have it
Questions to ask your provider:
- Can you explain my test results?
- Am I due for any screenings?
- Am I due for any vaccinations?
- When should I schedule my next appointment?
Pain Management
Pain can impact every aspect of life, including your ability to enjoy work. If you are experiencing new or continuing pain, work with your provider to receive treatment for pain that provides the greatest benefits relative to risks.
What to talk to your provider about your pain:
- Goals for function, activity, and quality of life, and how pain has impacted them
- Your health history
- Medications you are currently taking
- Nonopioid medication, therapy, and treatment options might prefer
- Home and work environment
Questions for your provider:
- What is causing the pain?
- What pain management options are available?
- What are the expected pain relief levels for each treatment option?
- Will lifestyle changes help?
- What should I do if my pain gets worse?
If you are prescribe you medication:
- Is this medication an opioid?
- What type of pain does this medication treat?
- How does this medication work?
- What are the benefits of this medication?
- What are the potential risks of this medication?
- How long should I take the medication?
- Are there alternative treatments or medications I could consider instead?
- Are there other medications if this medication does not work?
- How will we evaluate the effectiveness of this medication?
- Can I drive a car or operate heavy machinery while taking this medication?
- Does this medication interact with my other medications?
- Should I have naloxone available to me while I take this medication?