Get the most out of your doctor's visit by using these helpful suggestions on how to talk to and communicate with your doctor about pain.
First and foremost never be intimidated by a doctor. Yes, they are smart people; we wouldn't want anyone but intelligent people taking care of us. However, they are indeed human, real people just like you and I. And while they might be good at diagnosing the flu, chances are there's a lot of stuff you can do that they can't. So before going in to see your doctor try to picture them as human beings that have compassion and understanding and aren't judging you for anything that you say. (If you have an experience with a doctor who makes you feel as if he/she is judging you-find a new doctor - ASAP!) After all if you were an artist would you consider someone a fool if he could only draw stick figures?
Just as you would not expect someone outside of your profession (i.e. art) to immediately have the answers (i.e. The portrait on the wall is a Monet) your doctor is not expecting you to show up with answers---only questions. Remember you're going to see the doctor to get a diagnosis. Don't try to diagnose yourself. Tell your doctor about all the abnormalities you've been having. Just because you don't think that the headaches you've been having are related to the foot pain doesn't mean they aren't important enough to mention.
The third key factor cannot be stressed enough. Don't be embarrassed to tell your doctor ANYTHING. And be free with how you describe what you're going through. If you think that the pain in your back feels like a knife jabbing you over and over AND like ten thousand wasps stung you, then say so. You'd be surprised how much easier it is for doctors to figure out what's going on with their patients when the patient uses similes and examples, etc. As a side tip, telling your doctor when it hurts most is helpful.
The fourth and most important of all the tips is to make sure you do not walk out of that doctor's office feeling confused. Don't hesitate to ask the doctor what a prescription is for and how it will help. (Most doctors really should explain this to you without being asked.) It's okay if you don't understand exactly what the doctor is asking or telling you. Just tell them you do not understand. Be sure before you leave to ask your doctor what you should do should the pain you're having not go away or perhaps even get worse.
So, doctors aren't that bad, right? I'm sure you're thinking what most would be. It's a lot easier said than done. If you're worried you'll forget something important or blank out when asked about your pain, a good idea is to write down questions ahead of time. Another EXCELLENT idea is to keep a journal of your pain prior to seeing your doctor. Write stuff in it daily about what you're feeling. You could even log specific times that things happen. This can really help your doctor determine what the problem might be. Also, then you've written down descriptions of your pain and your doctor can take those notes and ask questions from there. The most important thing to remember is that there is no question too stupid and no description too dumb. Use whatever examples you can think of to communicate what you're feeling.
