Partnering With Your Doctor
It's a good idea to schedule a doctor visit to talk about the painful symptoms you have in your feet, legs, or hands. If you have an upcoming routine visit, you can also talk about your painful symptoms at that time. At the beginning of the visit, let your doctor know your concerns. Only your doctor can tell if your symptoms are due to diabetic nerve pain.
Here are some tips to help you make the most of your doctor visit:
Help Your Doctor Understand Your Pain
Explain the painful symptoms you are having.
Be Ready to Share Information With Your Doctor
Your doctor will need to ask you questions about your pain. It may help to write down some details before the visit so you won't forget. For example, your doctor may want to know:
- When you first started having pain
- What the pain feels like (for example, burning, throbbing, shooting, stabbing)
- Where you feel the pain (for example, your hands, your feet, or just one hand or foot)
- What medicines (prescription and over-the-counter) or home remedies you have tried for the pain
- Did any of them work? If so, for how long? Are you still taking them?
Be sure to bring a list for your doctor of all the prescription and over-the-counter medicines that you are taking.
Write down questions you want to ask your doctor, such as:
- Could diabetes be causing my pain?
- What can I expect from treatment?
- What are ways I can help relieve the pain?
- Is once-daily Cymbalta right for me?
Sometimes when doctors answer questions or explain things, they use medical terms and words that are hard to understand. If this happens during your visit, ask your doctor to explain again using simpler words.
The Diabetic Nerve Pain Impact Tool can help you learn more about your pain symptoms and how to talk with your doctor about the ways your pain is affecting you.
Talking with your doctor can help you manage your pain. If you are having diabetic nerve pain, treatment with Cymbalta may help. Ask your doctor if Cymbalta is right for you.
