Many people silently suffer from pain everyday. Others experience pain often and take a wide variety of pain medication or illegal drugs. Surveys show that many men are extremely reluctant to go for help or see their health care provider.

Pain is a sign or symptom that something is wrong. When you experience pain, consider getting help. Go to your health care provider prepared to talk about how much and how long you have been hurting, and ask questions, especially if medication is recommended. If your physician suggests you take drugs, ask what the side effects may be.

Ultimately, the only way to know how much medication may help is to give it an honest try. Keep a calendar of the benefits and side effects, if any. Feel free to call your doctor if you have a negative experience. Many people also seek the professional assistance of alternative medical professionals and health care products.

You may ask yourself these questions:

How much does it hurt? On a scale of 1 -5 (5 being the most)

How frequently during the week does it hurt?( on a scale of 1-7 with each number representing the number of days per week.)

Also, how much would you pay to greatly reduce or eliminate the pain?

For additional information, search these sites:

http://www.theacpa.org
American Chronic Pain Association

http://www.cancer-pain.org/
Cancer Pain

http://www.ampainsoc.org/advocacy
American Pain Society