Patients who are true partners with their physicians have more success than those who take a "hands-off," passive approach. It is critical that you educate yourself on your condition and communicate openly and honestly with your physician. You should always ask questions.

3. Make a sustained commitment.

More often than not, overcoming pain is a multi-step process. While pain treatment varies for every patient, it usually includes more than just one strategy and approach. It is vital that you make a lasting commitment and follow the prescribed course in its entirety.

4. Recognize the important role your physical health plays in your successful treatment.

It is easier for an otherwise healthy person to fight chronic pain than it is for an unhealthy person. Factors such as weight, lifestyle and diet all play a role in treatment outcomes. Work with your pain medicine expert to determine what is appropriate for you to do to ensure physical health.

5. Recognize the important role your psychological health plays in your treatment.

Your mental well-being affects your physical well-being, and vice-versa. Anxiety or depression can have adverse effects on the endocrine and immune functions, which can affect healing, disease resistance and convalescence time. When psychological distress is coupled with acute or chronic pain, a vicious cycle can develop where the pain causes more distress, which hampers treatment of the pain. It is vital that you be aware of your emotions and overall mental health, and seek professional help, if necessary.

The mental health aspect of pain treatment is often underappreciated but is well supported by medical data. In a recent paper, "Predictors of Postoperative Pain and Analgesic Consumption," published in the September 2009 edition of Anesthesiology, the official journal of the ASA, the authors reviewed 48 studies examining 23,037 patients. Anxiety, preoperative pain, age and surgery type were shown to be predictors of increased levels of acute or chronic pain after surgery.

6.Talk to others who have had the same condition.

Communicating with your physicians is important. It is also often helpful to talk to someone who has walked in your shoes. Hearing the firsthand account of someone who has gone through the same experiences you're facing can help make an upcoming surgery less of a mystery. Reach out to support groups online or in your area.