Questions to ask before taking pain medicines

• What types of medicines would work best for my pain?
• Does the IHS / Tribal / Urban Indian clinic have these types of drugs?
  • If not, where can I get them?
  • Will the IHS / Tribal / Urban Indian clinic pay for my travel costs?
  • How much do the drugs cost?
  • Will the IHS / Tribal / Urban Indian clinic pay for these drugs (reimburse me)?

• How many weeks of these drugs am I allowed to have? (NOTE: this is an important question to ask if you have to travel a long way to the pharmacy or clinic that will provide these drugs)
• If I am in too much pain to travel to pick up the drugs myself, may I have someone from my family pick up more of these drugs for me?
• How am I supposed to take this medicine?
  • (Is it a pill I take every four hours;
  • a suppository I put inside my rectum;
  • do I rub the medication on my gums whenever I feel I need quick relief from my pain)?

• How long should I take this medicine?
• Are there any problems if I am taking this medicine and the other medicines I am taking?
• Are there any problems if I am taking this medicine while I am also taking traditional Indian medicines, teas, juices or poultices?
• Are there any non-drug methods to help with my pain?

Talking to your provider about your pain

• Talking with your provider about your pain is very important.
• To better tell your provider about your pain, it may be helpful to keep a daily pain diary which includes:
  • Where/when pain occurs
  • What the pain feels like (sharp, dull)
  • How long the pain lasts
  • What makes the pain better/worse
  • How the pain affects your life (sleep, working, cooking, taking care of kids)

• Describe your pain as clearly as possible
• List all medications you are taking
• How is your pain relief
• How does your pain feel throughout the day
• How would you describe your pain
• Do you have breakthrough pain
  • If yes, do they happen without warning? Are they related to activity
  • How intense is your breakthrough pain
  • How much relief do you get for your breakthrough pain

• When did pain start
• Where do you feel the pain
• What is the pain like (sharp/dull/etc)
• Is the pain mild, moderate/severe
• Is the pain constant or does it come and go
• Does the pain change when you move
• What makes better/worse
• What have you tried for pain relief
• How much pain do your current treatments relief

What should I do if my pain medicine isnt working?

• Call/tell your healthcare provider
• Ideas:
  • I am calling because I am still having pain.
  • My pain is (___) on a scale of 0-10 (or some type of rating)
  • I take (pain medicine) every (___) hours
  • My worst pain is (____) on a scale of 0-10
  • I have taken (___) does of breakthrough pain medicine in the last 24 hours
  • I am having the following side effects (____)
  • Because of my pain, I can’t (____)