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Pains That You Should Never Ignore
Pain is a part of life. We’re all going to have some measure of it at some point or another. It is our body’s way of telling us that something is not right and needs to be taken care of. And as we get older, we may find that we are dealing with more and more instances of it, even from something as simple as getting out of bed in the morning.
Most of us stubbornly ignore our pain, thinking that it will go away or correct itself given time. At the most, we might lay down for a couple of hours and see if it passes. But there are times, such as when pain comes on suddenly, lingers, or somehow becomes much worse very quickly, when we should most certainly pay attention. And there are certain types of pain that should never be ignored; rather, you should seek immediate treatment.
Chest pain should be the most obvious candidate for a trip to the doctor’s office. Chest pain that refuses to go away or subside, accompanies by shortness of breath, or any other upper body pain that has not occurred before, may be a sure sign of a heart attack. If you find yourself in such a condition, call 911 right away. It is always better to err on the side of caution.
Severe headaches. Migraines are one thing, but head pain can also be a sign of a brain aneurysm, which can cause brain damage within minutes. Aneurysms are the bulging of one of the arteries in the brain, and unfortunately aren’t always discovered until they rupture, causing bleeding into the brain, leading to hemorrhagic stroke and even death. Severe head pain that refuses to subside should be looked at as soon as possible.
Toothaches. It doesn’t sound like anything a trip to the dentist won’t cure, and in most cases it is, however, there are cases where you are dealing with rotting enamel. Unless it is treated quickly, you may end up with bacteria invading the nerve surrounding the tooth, which means root canal, which can be a very uncomfortable and difficult process.
A sharp pain in your side. This is expected if you’ve just run a marathon or if you’ve eaten something that refuses to agree with you, but if the pain is excruciating and accompanied by nausea and a fever, you may be looking at appendicitis, or if you are a woman, an ovarian cyst. Cysts are usually harmless and disappear on their own, but if they twist or rupture, they can cause extreme pain.
In either case, you are looking at emergency surgery. And inflamed appendix can burst, and a twisted or torsioned cyst can block blood flow to an artery within a matter of hours.
Abdominal discomfort. In women, if accompanied by gas or bloating, this may be the first indicator of ovarian cancer. If the discomfort occurs on a daily basis for longer than a couple of weeks, consult your doctor.
Back pain. Recurring back pain may mean that one of your discs is pushing into your spinal nerve. Without attention, you could be looking at permanent nerve damage. Remember that back pain can also be manifested in the feet or legs. Do not dismiss any of these symptoms.
Leg pain accompanied by swelling. If your leg is in pain, swollen, and red or warm to the touch, you may be looking at a blood clot. Do not massage the area or try to “walk off the pain” as this could cause the clot to break off and go to your lungs, effectively cutting off your oxygen supply. Ultrasounds are typically utilized to discover and diagnose blood clots. If that turns out to be the case, blood thinners may be prescribed to deal with it, a treatment that may take up to a year to complete.
Pain is something that should never be ignored, because at its core it is your body telling you that something is wrong and needs to be addressed. Don’t take chances when they can easily be dealt with. If you suspect something is wrong, then it probably is. Call your doctor and get the professional diagnosis first thing.
About the Author
Billy D Ritchie is the Director Of Content for LeadsByFone, LLC, a lead generation company servicing the flood clean up and water damage restoration industry.
When not writing and educating folks about the perils of water damage, he is also a freelance writer, sometime actor, and formerly professional musician. He also enjoys spending his weekends building and flying model rockets.
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