No. Don’t wait until pain becomes severe to take pain medication. Pain is easier to control when it is mild. You should take your pain medication regularly, just as prescribed. Sometimes this means taking medicine on a regular schedule, even when you don’t feel pain.

Not necessarily, if you take your medication exactly as prescribed. A person’s likelihood of becoming addicted depends, in part, on his or her addiction history. Addiction is less likely if you have never abused drugs or had an addictive disorder. Ask your doctor about any concerns you may have.

This situation occurs when you have developed tolerance to a drug. Tolerance is a normal physiological response to narcotics and occurs when the initial dose of a substance loses its effectiveness over time. Changing the dose or the medication often solves the problem. Just because you have become tolerant to a drug does not mean that you are addicted to that drug.

Yes. Your health care provider needs to assess your pain, so it is very important for your health care team to know if you are in pain.

You might notice at times that you are in more pain than usual (such as at the end of a tiring day or as a result of certain activities). If you notice that certain activities contribute to your pain, or that you feel worse at certain times of the day, medication can be taken prior to the activity (or time of day) to help prevent the pain from occurring. Always be sure to follow your doctor’s instructions.

Describe your pain clearly and in as much detail as possible. Most doctors and nurses ask you to describe your level of pain on a scale.

Describe your pain clearly and in as much detail as possible. Most doctors and nurses ask you to describe your level of pain on a scale.

Describe your pain clearly and in as much detail as possible. Most doctors and nurses ask you to describe your level of pain on a scale.

Friends and family can help by encouraging you to live as normally and independently as possible.

Not necessarily. With proper treatment, people can live full, normal lives after having experienced chronic pain.