Communication Tools
Good communication with your health care providers is vital to getting the help you need to live well in spite of your pain. The ACPA tools in this section can help you talk more productively with your doctor or pharmacist.
You also may find them useful in identifying patterns in your daily life that have an impact on your pain. When you understand your personal pain triggers, you can deal with them more proactively.
Quality of Life Scale
The Quality of Life scale is provided in two formats, graphical and text. We invite you to explore both formats to see which one might better help you to communicate with your health care provider as well as family and friends.
Quaility of Life Scale Graphical Format
Quaility of Life Scale Text Format
Pain Log
Many things can affect your pain. These can include stress, sleep, money worries, and even the weather. The Pain Log can help you track the everyday things that have an impact on your pain. When you understand what makes your pain worse, you can begin to work on ways to reduce or deal with your pain “triggers.”
The more you know about how your body reacts, the more you can be in control. And being in better control can help you be less afraid and better able to manage your pain. We encourage you to fill out a chart out at the end of each day or several times a week. You also can take your “log book” to your doctor visits. It can help you talk more openly with your healthcare provider so that together you can find ways to improve your quality of life.
CARE Card
When you’re not feeling well you go to the doctors. He or she may give you a prescription to obtain medication from the pharmacy as part of your treatment. It is important that you understand what you are taking, why and how to take it. This graphical tool will help you to understand how your medication should be taken, what things you should avoid while taking it as well as possible side effects.
Follow-Up From Your Visit
It is important that after your appointment with your doctor you follow through with what was discussed during your visit. The ACPA Follow-Up tool provides you with this simple guide to ensure that you complete all the treatments/advice/recommendations. Keep in mind that you play a significant role in your health care.