Key Takeaways:
- Pain that lasts several weeks, keeps returning or interferes with daily activities should be discussed with a healthcare provider.
- A primary care provider can evaluate your symptoms, identify possible underlying causes and recommend appropriate next steps.
- Treatment may include lifestyle changes, physical therapy, medication, diagnostic testing or a referral to a pain specialist.
- Sudden or significant changes in pain, especially when accompanied by weakness, breathing problems or loss of bladder or bowel control, may require urgent medical attention.
It’s very normal to deal with typical aches and pains every now and again. That pain could be from sleeping in a weird position at night, going a little too hard on your workout at the gym, or even just pulling too many weeds in your garden one afternoon. Most of the time, these issues will heal themselves with time and rest. But what do you do when the pain doesn’t go away?
September is Pain Awareness Month, so it’s a great time to talk about the difference between temporary discomfort and pain that you should discuss with a doctor. If the pain you’re dealing with continues to interfere with your daily life (sleep, work, hobbies), then primary care for chronic pain may be your next move for relief.
When Does Pain Become Chronic?
Chronic pain is pain that doesn’t seem to improve, keeps coming back, or begins getting in the way of your normal routine. It can linger after an injury or illness, coincide with another health condition, or sometimes continue without an obvious cause. Examples of ongoing pain are:
- Back or neck pain
- Joint pain or stiffness
- Frequent headaches
- Muscle pain
- Arthritis-related discomfort
- Pain following an injury
- Nerve-related pain, such as tingling or burning
- Pain connected to an ongoing health condition
At Your Family Medical, our team of pain specialists can help you figure out what’s causing your symptoms and what you should plan to do next.
Signs It May Be Time to Make an Appointment
You’re probably very aware that pain is different for everyone, aka there’s no single rule or guideline for when you should see a doctor. Just because a mild ache may be manageable for you doesn’t mean that it is for someone else. Consider scheduling an appointment if:
- Your pain has lasted several weeks or keeps returning.
- The pain is becoming more intense.
- Pain regularly wakes you up or makes it difficult to sleep.
- You’re avoiding normal activities because of discomfort.
- Over-the-counter medications aren’t helping.
- You notice numbness, tingling, weakness, or changes in movement.
- You’re relying on pain medication more frequently.
- You can’t figure out what’s causing the pain.
Take this as your sign- you don’t have to wait until your pain becomes severe or debilitating to bring it up with your doctor!
What Can a Primary Care Provider Do for Ongoing Pain?
Primary care providers look at your health as a whole instead of focusing on one symptom, so that helps get a clearer picture of what could be causing your pain.
At Your Family Medical, we will ask when the pain started, where you feel it, what makes it better or worse, and how it negatively affects your life. Depending on your symptoms/responses, the next steps we recommend could include:
- Lifestyle changes
- Stretching or exercise
- Physical therapy
- Medication
- Imaging or additional testing
- Treatment of an underlying medical condition
- Referral to a specialist
We will work with you to understand what could possibly be contributing to the pain and develop a plan that fits your overall health.
When Might You Need a Pain Specialist?
Sometimes pain that won’t go away requires more specialized care. Your primary care provider may recommend seeing a pain doctor in Flower Mound, Bedford or Benbrook TX patients can turn to when symptoms are more complex or haven’t improved with initial treatment. Specialists are appropriate when pain is severe and requires treatments that aren’t typically provided or offered in a primary care setting. Primary care providers can also help coordinate your care so that different doctors and treatments work together instead of feeling disconnected (this is very important)!
Don’t Ignore Changes in Your Pain
Even if you’ve dealt with discomfort and pain for years, new symptoms need to be taken note of. Talk with your provider if your usual pain suddenly becomes worse or feels different. Certain symptoms like:
- significant weakness
- loss of bladder or bowel control
- chest pain
- difficulty breathing
- severe pain following a major injury
may require urgent medical attention.
Family Medicine in Bedford Benbrook & Flower Mound, TX
Pain can slowly start to become a normal part of your routine if you don’t take action. You may start changing how you spend your free time without realizing how much the discomfort is affecting you. Pain Awareness Month is a good reminder that ongoing pain is worth discussing, and you don’t need to have all the answers before making an appointment. At Your Family Medical, our goal is to help our patients stay active, comfortable, and involved in the things that matter to them. If your pain is no longer going away on its own, reach out to us today to make an appointment.
Bedford, TX:1305 Airport Fwy #302A, Bedford, TX, 76021. P: 817-283-6995
Benbrook, TX: 9239 Vista Way, Benbrook, TX 76126. P: 682-224-6474
Flower Mound, TX: 4101 Kirkpatrick Ln. Flower Mound, TX 75028. P: 972-436-7531
Frequently Asked Questions About Ongoing Pain
Q: How long should I wait before seeing a doctor about pain?
A: Consider scheduling an appointment if your pain lasts several weeks, repeatedly returns, becomes more intense or begins affecting your sleep, work, mobility or daily activities. You do not need to wait until the pain becomes severe to speak with your provider.
Q: Can a primary care provider help with chronic pain?
A: Yes. A primary care provider can assess your overall health, evaluate possible causes of your pain and create an initial treatment plan. They can also order diagnostic testing or coordinate a referral when specialized care is needed.
Q: What information should I share with my provider about my pain?
A: Be prepared to explain when the pain began, where you feel it, how it feels and what makes it better or worse. It is also helpful to describe how the pain affects your sleep, movement, work and everyday routine.
Q: When might I need to see a pain specialist?
A: Your primary care provider may recommend a pain specialist if your symptoms are severe, complex or have not improved with initial treatments. A specialist may also offer diagnostic procedures or treatments that are not commonly provided in a primary care setting.
Q: When does ongoing pain require immediate medical attention?
A: Seek urgent medical care for pain accompanied by chest pain, difficulty breathing, significant weakness, loss of bladder or bowel control, or severe pain following a major injury. Sudden pain that is unusually intense or different from your normal symptoms should also be evaluated promptly.
