Addiction
What is addiction, and how is it possible that I won’t become addicted if I take pain medication?

Americans with Disabilities Act Information
Where can I go for more information about my rights as an individual with a disability pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act?

Americans with Disabilities Act Protection
Is a person living with chronic pain protected from discrimination by the Americans with Disabilities Act?

Anti-inflammatories For Pain
I'm 60 years old and work in my garden when the weather permits. I have noticed lately that the muscles in my arms and legs ache after I garden. My doctor has suggested I take anti-inflammatory medications called NSAIDs to relieve this pain. What are these? Some of them are available to patients only by prescription and others aren’t. What is the difference?

Antidepressants for Pain
My doctor says that I have “myofascial back pain.” He has also ordered me an antidepressant to take to decrease the pain. I did not think that I was depressed. So now I am a bit confused – I even wondered if the pharmacy gave me the wrong medication. Can you explain why an antidepressant is used for pain?

Back Pain
When do I know that my back pain is really serious versus just run-of-the-mill back pain that will go away?

Ben Gay and Capsaicin
I used to use Ben Gay in high school for muscle pain and now I see capsaicin as a “rub-on” medicine for pain in the stores. Does it work the same as Ben Gay?

Bier Blocks
I have a condition called CRPS. My doctor wants to do a procedure called a Bier Block on my arm to help the pain in my hand. What exactly is this Bier Block?

Biofeedback
I am 66 years old and my doctor says I have poor circulation in my arteries causing me to have leg pain. My doctor has suggested that I have biofeedback training to relieve this pain. What is biofeedback?

Botox
I’ve heard about Botox for treating wrinkles and lately about Botox for back pain. What is Botox?

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Every couple of weeks when I wake up, my right arm is numb and my right hand occasionally feels achy. My doctor says I have carpal tunnel syndrome in the hand. What is carpal tunnel syndrome and what can be done to help this numbness and pain?

Communicating My Pain to a Physician or Physician Assistant
What is the best way to communicate my pain to a physician assistant or physician?

Cox-2 Inhibitors
I have suffered from osteoarthritis pain for about four years and normally take aspirin for pain in my joints. My doctor has now recommended that I start taking Celebrex instead of this medication. Aspirin has always worked well for my pain so I am afraid to switch to another drug that may not work. What is Celebrex and will it help with my pain as well as aspirin?

Diabetic Neuropathy
I have had diabetes for the last 10 years. My doctor says that I have neuropathic pain in my feet, and he has recommended giving me an anti-depressant medication. I don’t quite understand why I need an anti-depressant for this?

Epidural Steroids
I have had low back pain for several years and my doctor has completed a battery of tests but cannot find anything specifically wrong with my back. Now my doctor wants me to get an epidural steroid injection. What is an epidural steroid injection and will it help?

Fibromyalgia
I feel achy all the time and my doctor just diagnosed me with fibromyalgia. I have looked this up on the Internet and see a lot of confusing information, and it sounds like this may be a life sentence of pain and suffering. What is this and what can I do about it?

Fifth Vital Sign
What is meant by all of the recent news about pain as the 5th vital sign?

Finding Pain Care When Your Doctor Closes Practice
My physician, who has been treating my pain for years, is closing the practice and moving out of town. How do I go about finding someone who will continue treating my pain?

Glucosamine and Chondroitin
I am 51 years old and I have had arthritis in my hip joints for many years. I have tried taking arthritis medications, but they upset my stomach too much. My doctor tells me I may need a hip replacement, but suggested I try a supplement called “glucosamine and chondroitin” to help my hip. What are glucosamine and chondroitin and will these medications be effective?

Headache Versus Migraine
My doctor just told me that I don’t get migraines; he says that they are just regular headaches. My headaches are very severe, so what is the difference between my headache and a migraine headache?