Chronic Pain:Pain Tests, Doctors, and Attitudes
Health Journey
WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
Chronic Pain News and Insights
Sign up for a free weekly email with our most up-to-date information.
What You Need to Know
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Pain Expert B. Eliot Cole, MD, Explains Why Patients Have to Fight for Good Care
B. Eliot Cole, MD
Executive director of the American Society of Pain Educators
Q: Can a family doctor successfully treat chronic pain?
A: The view of most primary care doctors is that they treat all pain as acute pain, no matter how long it goes on. Acute pain should be thought of as ending in 30 days, then it’s subacute for 30 to 60 days, but after that it’s chronic pain. The biology of chronic pain is not the biology of acute pain. If you fall and break your wrist, the bones will heal within four to six weeks, but pain may continue. You can’t treat that like you would the acute fracture. Read More
A: The view of most primary care doctors is that they treat all pain as acute pain, no matter how long it goes on. Acute pain should be thought of as ending in 30 days, then it’s subacute for 30 to 60 days, but after that it’s chronic pain. The biology of chronic pain is not the biology of acute pain. If you fall and break your wrist, the bones will heal within four to six weeks, but pain may continue. You can’t treat that like you would the acute fracture. Read More
Why It's Important to Keep a Pain Diary
Making sense of your symptoms
Your doctor needs detailed information to find the causes and triggers of your chronic pain and build an effective treatment plan. When she asks how you have been in the past month or two, you need to provide specifics. One technique pain doctors strongly recommend is writing a record of your pain experience. Learn how to keep a pain diary so that you can get the relief you need. Read More
How to Describe Your Pain to Doctors
Help them understand your pain so you get the treatment you need
It can be surprisingly difficult to describe how pain feels. Each of us experiences our pain differently, making it highly subjective—and that makes it a challenge for a doctor to evaluate. Many doctors use a 0-to-10 pain scale. A 0 rating means you have nothing to discuss, 10 is off-the-charts, I-can't-stand-it agony. This can be a good starting point. But it has its limitations. One person's 8 can be another person's 4. Read More
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Expert Jennifer Jaff Explains the Tricks to Getting Health Insurance and Affordable Care for Chronic Pain
Jennifer Jaff, Esq.
Executive director of Advocacy for Patients With Chronic Illness
Q: If I don't have insurance through an employer or spouse, what kind should I look for?
A: Number one, look for a high-risk pool—insurance that is designed for people with chronic illnesses. Find out if your state has one by calling your state insurance department. Some have good coverage and are reasonably priced, some have lousy coverage and are incredibly expensive. Ask a lot of questions and look into it carefully to make sure it's going to meet your needs. Read More
A: Number one, look for a high-risk pool—insurance that is designed for people with chronic illnesses. Find out if your state has one by calling your state insurance department. Some have good coverage and are reasonably priced, some have lousy coverage and are incredibly expensive. Ask a lot of questions and look into it carefully to make sure it's going to meet your needs. Read More
Video: Perspectives on Chronic Pain
-
Chronic Pain Is RealDoctors don't recognize chronic pain
( 1:05 ) -
Acute vs. Chronic PainThey need different treatment
( :46 ) -
Don't Be StoicTell your doctor how it really feels
( 1:52 ) -
Be a Good PatientHow to get the best care
( 1:24 )
