If your doctor suspects you have chronic pain, he will involve other health care professionals to thoroughly diagnose your condition. He will take your complete medical history and perform a physical exam. A psychologist, nurse, social worker, and/or physical therapist may also be asked for their input.Keeping a diary of your pain is also useful. You can use the diary to chart when you felt pain, when you did not feel pain, what triggered the pain, how bad the pain felt, and many other variables that will allow your health care providers to diagnose you accurately.
Pain management is traditionally a drug treatment as well as a non-drug treatment. Non-addictive, non-narcotic drugs such as acetaminophen, aspirin, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen. These medications may have side effects for certain patients, such as upset stomach, kidney damage, and more, so talk to your physician.
If non-narcotic drugs do not relieve pain, your doctor may recommend morphine, oxycodone, or codeine, which may be addictive. The side effects associated with these drugs include nausea, drowsiness, hallucinations, and others, so use them only under a physician’s care. These drugs are available in several forms, including liquid, skin patch, suppository, and pill.
