Back Pain: Important Information To Tell Your Doctor

As a potential patient, you need to be an advocate for your own health. There are some truly fabulous doctors available and then there are those who are simply more interested in getting as much money out of you as possible. These are the physicians who order unnecessary tests and push that you use medications that may not make much of a difference to your overall ability to function daily.

It’s important to ask the right questions during the consultation meeting to try to get the best feel possible for the type of doctor the back specialist is. That said, you as the potential patient still need to provide the physician with enough information about you, the pain you’re experiencing, and what you hope to get out of the treatments for him to be able to provide you with the type of medical service you’re looking for. An informed doctor can better answer any patient specific questions you may have.

When providing your physician with enough information to create a treatment plan that works for you, you may sometimes need to think outside the box. During the consultation meeting the doctor may ask you a variety of questions that don’t appear to be connected to the problem of back pain. Don’t become huffy or impatient. There’s a reason for these questions since many different parts of our health are connected.

For example, mental and physical health is related. There have been many studies conducted and published in reputable medical journals about the effects depression and anxiety can have on pain perception and an overall outlook on recovery. It also has an impact on pain perception. In other words, if you’re not in a very healthy place mentally, the back pain you feel may be significantly worse than it should be based on the injury. The way you feel emotionally and mentally can have a big impact on how you physically feel. The best back pain doctors will consider a multidisciplinary approach to treating the pain and this can involve a psychological component like cognitive behavioral therapy in your treatment plan. The goal is to get rid of the back pain and you need to be open to all types of treatments.

It’s important that you tell your doctor if you have ever abused drugs in the past. This is a question your doctor may ask you, but if she doesn’t, be prepared to be honest and upfront with the problems you have had or currently have. This can impact how willing the doctor is to give you medication. Often those who have had a drug problem in the past prefer to treat with medication only as a last resort. Since some physicians write a medication prescription by default, you want to make sure the back pain doctor will work with you and accommodate your preferences when treating your back pain.

Treatment of back pain should be a multidisciplinary approach. If you want to pursue alternative therapies as well, be sure to let the back pain doctor know this. Find out if the doctor is willing to work with health professionals providing alternative forms of therapy. Some places require a physician referral to see a physical therapist or chiropractor. Make sure your doctor is willing to do this.

I write on many diffrent topics. Follow me to read all great articles.