Preparing for an appointment

You're likely to start by seeing your primary care provider. If you are a competitive athlete, you might go directly to a doctor who specializes in musculoskeletal problems.

What you can do

Before the appointment, make a list of:

• Your symptoms, including any that seem unrelated to the reason for your appointment
• Key personal information, including your level and type of physical activity and whether you've increased training recently
• All medications, vitamins or other supplements you take, including doses
• Questions to ask your doctor

Take a family member or friend along, if possible, to help you remember the information you're given.

For stress fractures, basic questions to ask your doctor include:

• What is the likely cause of my symptoms?
• What tests do I need?
• Do I need to stop my activity? For how long?
• Should I see a specialist?

Don't hesitate to ask other questions.