Talking to Your Doctor About Joint Pain

Getting Started

Joint pain and stiffness can take a toll on every part of your life. And left untreated, joint pain symptoms are likely to get worse, not better. Forming a good partnership with your healthcare team is the key to finding relief. Below is a list of topics to help you know what to ask the doctor – so you can get the care you need.

• How often you have joint symptoms and how intense the pain is on a scale of 1 (mild) to 10 (worst)
• When you first noticed your symptoms
• What aggravates and what relieves them (use this journal to track them)

• Treatment options and the benefits and risks of each
• Medications you're taking, changes in your medical history
• If you're a candidate for viscosupplements (hyaluronan injections)
• Whether you should see other specialists (see below)

• Whether over-the-counter topical therapies or heat or cold therapy might provide symptom relief
• Any changes to your routine that may reduce joint strain
• What types of exercise and foods are best for your joints