If you work with several doctors, make sure all of them have access to your medical records. Inform each doctor of the pain medication you're taking, who's prescribing it and what, if any, additional drugs you take for other reasons. Once your pain is under control, your primary doctor can provide ongoing prescriptions for pain medication.

Identify the obstacles

Chronic pain can dominate your thoughts. To shift your focus, identify an obstacle that prevents you from taking a step toward feeling better. Set reasonable, attainable goals to help you move past the obstacle and go on to the next challenge.

Consider these examples:

• You don't take your medication as prescribed. You often take extra doses of pain medication at night because you've forgotten to take a scheduled dose during the day or you need pain medication to help you sleep. Start by asking your doctor about changing your dosing schedule or otherwise simplifying your regimen. Perhaps your doctor has other suggestions to improve your sleep. Then set a goal of taking your medication exactly as prescribed for two weeks. Make it your next goal to stick to the schedule for two more weeks, then for four weeks, and so on.


• You don't do your exercises. Your doctor says a simple set of daily exercises will help your back pain. You're embarrassed to admit it, but you've never been able to complete the exercises without getting short of breath. Rather than burdening yourself with guilt, come clean with your doctor. Although it might take a while to notice improvement, exercises for back pain should not leave you breathless. If they do, your doctor can help you find out why and take care of the problem.