Please suggest some important questions i can ask my doctor about pain management.

Do: Do you advocate holistic, natural treatment approaches before prescribing drugs?

Just: Just have a surgery? It's easier to keep up with your pain meds than to catch up with pain!

Ask: Ask about what to expect. Cannot make the pain go away 100% but should take the edge off.

What: What is the best treatment for my pain in the long term? This is very important.

What: What non-prescription methods can I use for pain control?

Would: Would you refer me to one? May i get an opinion from a specialist in pain management?

Taking: Taking tylenol (acetaminophen) and Ibuprofen together for severe pain can be as effective as percocet.

How: How can i stay ahead of the pain? What is the best pain med that will not affect my life?

Ask: Ask about their training, experience and rational for offered treatments.

Consider: Consider keeping a pain diary to look for patterns and types of pain that occur throughout the day.

What: What habits or behaviors can i change to improve results or duration of treatments?

Can: Can the cause be eliminated? Is there an alternative to chronic narcotics? Will epidurals help?

"Can: Can i try all options before using narcotics?

Always: Always find out what is the pain generator, how to compensate and cope, and what exercises help.

-Focus: -focus on whether you are interested in reduced pain or increase function.

What: What is the source of my pain? What therapy options are out there? What exercise can i do?

Exactly: Exactly what each medicine does and how to take each medicine. Have a plan for breakthrough pain.

If: If you hit a wall with med management, ask about physical therapy or interventional pain procedures.

Ignore: Share with your doctor why you're having your pain and what's making it worse.

Ignore: Ask for a referral to a physician anesthesiologist who specialized in pain management.

Ignore: Get to the "whys" of your chronic pain. Focus on functional treatments. Get away from pain meds.

Ignore: Depends on what you are going there for!