Pain is a natural signal that tells you if something is wrong. The discomfort can stem from an injury, illness, infection, or chronic condition. Some forms of pain go away without intervention, but others require comprehensive pain management delivered by an experienced neurologist or doctor. Here’s when to see a doctor about pain:
Persistent Pain
If your pain is persistent or lasts for several days or weeks, see a doctor as soon as possible. Persistent pain that doesn’t improve with rest and self-care indicates a bigger problem, such as an injured muscle, tissue, or nerve. You also need a professional diagnosis for sharp, sudden, or unexplained pain and any discomfort that gradually gets worse. Severe headaches, chest pain, and abdominal pain require prompt medical intervention to prevent further complications.
Injury-related Pain
Injuries like cuts, bruises, burns, and broken bones can cause varying levels of pain. Serious injuries like fractures, sprains, dislocations, and deformities require ongoing pain management to reduce discomfort as you recover. Your doctor can perform tests to determine the cause of the pain and prescribe painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs. Seek medical diagnosis as soon as possible for severe, persistent, or intermittent neck, shoulder, and back pain.
Additional Symptoms
Pain can be accompanied by other symptoms caused by the underlying medical condition. An example is chest pain paired with sweating, nausea, or shortness of breath. Such symptoms can be caused by serious medical conditions like heart disease and require immediate attention. Other symptoms include fatigue, unexplained weight loss, numbness, and tingling sensations.
Painful Conditions
Your pain doctor can help you achieve ongoing relief for painful conditions like sciatica, disc pain, and facet joint pain. Sciatica or radicular pain begins in the spine and radiates along the affected nerve to your arm, lower back, buttock, and leg. Conditions like herniated discs and spinal stenosis usually cause radicular pain and require medical attention. Disc pain affects the cartilage discs in your neck and back, while facet joint pain causes chronic neck and lower back pain. Other medical conditions that cause pain include sacroiliac joint pain and hip joint pain. Such discomforts require the attention of experienced neurologists and pain doctors.
Unresponsive Pain
Painkillers are usually the first treatment administered to reduce your discomfort. If the pain doesn’t respond to medication or requires increasing dosage over time, your doctor can recommend advanced intervention. Treatments include medial branch blocks, neurotomy, and transforaminal epidural steroid injections. Neurologists also use therapeutic selective nerve root blocks to block the path of pain transmission. Other treatments include hip and intra-articular sacroiliac joint injections.
Routine Interference
Visit a neurologist or pain doctor immediately if the discomfort is interfering with your daily life. Pain can make it difficult to walk, lift objects, or sleep, disrupting your school, work, and family life. If you experience difficulty moving your limb or joints, consult a doctor to diagnose and treat the condition.
Also Read: Integrative Approaches in Cancer Pain Management: The Role of a Pain Management Center
Get Professional Pain Management Today
Pain affects your comfort and concentration and reduces your quality of life. Some discomforts also signify bigger issues like nerve damage, organ failure, fractures, or cancer. Contact a neurologist today to learn more about pain management for different conditions.
