You’re on your way to your physician and you’ve been having some pain in your muscles or joints. Perhaps the last time you visited the physician you didn’t feel you received an answer to all your questions? Maybe there were things you forgot to mention. Now for a few weeks you are not able to go up and down steps because of pain and stiffness in your knees or maybe you’ve been having difficulty lifting your left shoulder the past couple of months.

Just as you might prepare and practice for a talk or prepare and practice before a new task, take a few minutes to write down some questions and thoughts about these symptoms that you’ve been experiencing.
The following are some of the A,B,Cs to help you obtain a good experience during your visit.

• A. How long have you had this pain?
• B. Did it come on suddenly over a few days or did it take many months?
• C. Have you noticed any swelling or redness of your joints?
• D. Is the pain primarily in the muscles or is it about and over joints?
• E. Have you been using any over-the-counter medications such as Tylenol or Aleve or alternative medicines such as Glucosamine Sulfate?
• F. What effect, if any, has rest or activity had with pain?
• G. After your doctor has examined you, ask if he plans to order any x-rays or laboratory tests and what does he hope to learn from these studies
• H. If he prescribes any medications, when does he anticipate you might experience relief?
• I. If you don’t notice any benefit, does he want you to call and does he suggest that you try using heat or ice?

Taking these few extra minutes before your appointment can ensure that the time you spend with your doctor will be most helpful.