Pain Fibromyalgia About Chronic Pain The following is a list of questions to ask your doctor About Chronic Pain  as well as tips for preparing for these conversations. 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. RELATED PROGRAMS Article - Quieting a Chronic Cough

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