What Should I Tell the Doctor About My
Symptoms?
By Elizabeth Scherer
How to Prepare for Your Doctor
Visit
To make sure you get the most
out of your time, be prepared to answer the following
questions:
- What are your risk factors?
- When did your symptoms begin?
- How often do your symptoms occur?
- Are symptoms constant, or do they come and go?
- What do your symptoms feel like?
- Have you had any of these symptoms before? When?
- What recent changes or stresses have you had in your
life?
It is important to be specific about your
symptoms because many conditions that affect bones,
joints,
muscles, ligaments, and
cartilage can cause
similar or the same symptoms. The more detailed you can be,
the more you are helping your doctor make an accurate
diagnosis and prescribe the most appropriate treatment.
Make sure you tell your doctor why you sought
care in the first place. Also tell your doctor the
following.
- Describe the character of your pain. For example,
describe where you feel pain, what it feels like, and when
symptoms began.
- Describe your joint stiffness.
- List your other symptoms.
- Describe the impact your condition is having on your
ability to do daily activities.
