People living with pain face obstacles daily – from physical limitations and depression related to their pain condition to financial and insurance issues, accessing care and treatment can be frustrating and difficult.

Patients have rights. You have the right to be treated with respect. You have the right to accept or refuse treatment. You have the right to ask for a second opinion. You have the right to obtain a copy of your medical records. Your health care providers must keep your records confidential. You have the right to a written explanation of why a treatment or medication has been denied by your health plan. You have the right to appeal coverage denials. Knowing your rights can help you get the care you need.

Along with rights, patients have responsibilities that – when understood and fulfilled – help create access to care today and ensure access to care for people who will be living with pain tomorrow. Patients' responsibilities are varied, but one of the must important responsibilities you have is to take an active role in managing your health.

• Ask your health care provider what you should expect regarding your pain condition.
• Discuss options for treating your pain with your health care provider.
• Ask questions if you do not understand your options.
• Work with your health care provider to develop a plan to manage your pain.
• Outline what you steps you are going to take to participate in your pain management plan (e.g., do your physical therapy exercises, take your medications on time and as directed).
• Ask your health care provider for pain relief when pain first begins.
• Help your health care provider to assess your pain by describing it clearly and tracking when it occurs, what causes it, what relieves it, and what makes it worse.
• Tell your health care provider if your pain is not relieved.
• Tell your health care provider about any worries you have about taking pain medication.
• Tell your health care provider about any side effects you have when taking medications.

You must be honest with your health care providers so that they can partner with you in providing the best and safest care. To provide the best care, your health care provider needs to know what medications and supplements you take, how your emotional health is faring, whether you drink alcohol or engage in risky behaviors, and more. Your health and safety depend on an honest and open relationship with your health care provider.

Another important responsibility that patients have is safe use and storage of medications. Click here to read more about what you can do to prevent misuse of medications and to take your medications safely and to read the Six Steps to Zero – a campaign to prevent unintentional deaths from medication misuse. Safe medication use and storage helps prevent injury and death and helps secure access to important treatment options in the future.