Pain is a normal reaction that helps indicate if something might be wrong. However, people sometimes suffer from chronic pain that you shouldn’t ignore, hence the need to seek a pain management doctor. For instance, when the pain keeps you from doing your usual routine, it may mean you need medical attention.
It’s crucial to remember that you shouldn’t immediately conclude that the pain you’re experiencing is due to a severe condition without letting a doctor check your condition first. Therefore, seek a pain management doctor if you observe and experience the following signs:
1. Non-Stop Pain
As mentioned, pain is a normal physical sensation. But if it continues for more than three months, it may already be categorized as chronic pain. With this type of pain, the sensation may not be continuous, but the pain is intermittent and stays longer. For instance, you can say that a headache is a type of chronic pain even if the pain isn’t always present if it continues for a longer period.
On the other hand, if the pain persists for less than three months and only lasts for a few minutes, it might just be acute. This type of pain is often associated with a temporary illness or a soft-tissue injury that would eventually fade after the disease or injury has healed. Nevertheless, acute pain can become chronic if your injuries or illnesses don’t heal properly.
Moreover, chronic pain isn’t only experienced as headaches; it also manifests as back pain and others sensations. Each type of pain may be the result of several factors. For instance, chronic back pain may be due to spine aging, congenital condition, or years of poor posture.
If you live in St. Louis, Missouri, and you’re unsure of the cause of your chronic pain, consider visiting St Louis Pain Consultants and other nearby clinics. By doing so, you can get a professional checkup to determine the root cause of the non-stop pain you’re experiencing.
2. Medication Dependency
Another sign that you need to see a pain management doctor is when you need to take medicine to make the pain go away. This suggests you’ve already become dependent on pain medication to make it through the day, which may be unhealthy.
These pain medications are often nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including ibuprofen, naproxen, and aspirin, which are also known to reduce inflammation and manage fever.
While these painkillers can make the pain go away temporarily, they can become harmful when taken improperly. For instance, consuming painkillers above their recommended dose may cause an overdose. Other negative effects of medication dependency include developing liver damage, kidney damage, and stomach bleeding.
Moreover, NSAID dependents could feel a ‘rebound headache’ when they suddenly stop the medication. If this is the case, a professional pain management doctor may help you overcome this dependency. They may also help find the leading cause of the pain so they can recommend a better treatment aside from taking pain relievers.
3. Involvement In A Car Accident
It’s also vital to have an appointment with a pain management doctor after a car accident, even if you think you don’t have any injury. In a car accident, your body may experience unnecessary stress from the force of the crash. As a result, you can incur common injuries like fractures, tears, contusions, strains, sprains, and other soft tissue injuries. As mentioned, these injuries can result in acute pain that might lead to chronic pain.
Some people may not experience immediate pain, making them think that they didn’t incur any injury. However, some become paralyzed or have internal bleeding due to a car accident. What’s worse, they only discover it after several days.
Thus, seeing a pain management doctor as soon as possible is recommended. That way, you can prevent aggravating your minor injuries since doctors can identify the injury earlier.
4. Current Treatment Is Ineffective
Aside from pain medication, there are other treatments for pain depending on your need. So, if you’re undergoing pain treatment but it’s not making the pain go away, consult your pain management doctor. They’ll conduct a checkup and may find that you need another type of treatment or a combination of different treatments.
One standard recommendation they may give is to have regular physical therapy. This treatment may help restore function and movement, promote healing, and relieve pain. That’s because trained physical therapists know how to identify factors like muscle stiffness that contribute to your pain and treat such areas.
Conclusion
Pain may be a common reaction of the body, but if it’s affecting your daily activities, you may need to seek a pain management doctor. By getting professional help, you’ll understand the cause of your pain better. Moreover, your doctor will also recommend the best treatment that’ll help you manage the pain.