Preparing for your appointment

Anyone can request an appointment at Complementary Therapy. Because many of the signs and symptoms of pain are similar to various other disorders, you may see several your family physicians, GPs, neurologists, orthopedic and sports medicine specialists before receiving a diagnosis. 

What you can do: 

• Be aware of any pre-appointment restrictions. At the time you make the appointment, be sure to ask if there's anything you need to do in advance to prepare for your evaluation.  
• Write down any symptoms you're experiencing, including any that may seem unrelated to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment. 
• Make a list of your key medical information, including any other conditions for which you're being treated, and the names of any medications, vitamins or supplements you're taking. 
• Consider questions to ask us  and write them down. Bring along notepaper and a pen to jot down information as your doctor addresses your questions. 
• Ssome basic questions to ask may  include:  

What are the possible causes of my symptoms? 

• Is my condition temporary? 
• Will I need treatment? 
• What treatments are available? 
• Do you have any brochures or other printed material that I can take home with me? What Web sites do you recommend? 
• In addition to the questions that you've prepared, don't hesitate to ask questions during your appointment if you don't understand something.  

What to expect from your doctor 

Your health care provider is likely to ask you a number of questions. Being ready to answer them may reserve time to go over any points you want to spend more time on.

Questions your doctor might ask include: 

• What symptoms are you experiencing? 
• Where do you feel the most intense area of pain? 
• How long have you been experiencing these symptoms? 
• Do your symptoms seem to come and go or are they persistent? 
• Does anything seem to make your symptoms better? 
• Does anything seem to make your symptoms worse? 
• Are your symptoms worse in the morning or at any particular time of the day? 
• Do you perform repetitive tasks on the job or for hobbies? 
• Have you had any recent injuries? 
• Does your pain cause you to limit your activities?