Be willing to explore the wide variety of self help strategies discussed later in this chapter and in other parts of our patient handbook. With current law in the USA, if your physician is prescribing stronger pain medication, they must justify the need for that in your medical records. Bring your pain log to your appointments. Share copies with your physician and make a list of the non-medication strategies that you are also using. Some don't communicate with their doctors about how much it really hurts.
Women often feel embarassed to talk about it.
It is not your burden to live life in pain. It is important that you tell your doctor exactly how you feel. Be as specific as you can be. Pain left untreated may cause physiological changes in the body that can prolong pain, perhaps indefinitely. Look at IC as a chance to make some important, long awaited changes in your life.