Pain can usually be tolerated and you just pop a painkiller and all goes well. However, many medical conditions can be masked with ordinary pains and aches, and if your threshold for pain is high, it can go unnoticed. It’s highly advised to seek medical attention if you’re unsure about the type of pain or ache, just to be in the clear. Below are some examples of pain you can experience and why you shouldn’t ignore them.
Radiating pain down the back of one leg
If you feel radiating pain from your lower back, buttocks and all the way down to your leg then you’re probably suffering from Sciatica. Sciatica refers to the sciatic nerve, one of the largest peripheral nerves, running down your leg. Pain occurs from the buttocks all the way down to your foot and ranges from dull, sharp, and burning feeling. Seeking sciatica treatment is highly recommended if you experience any signs of weakness, numbness or unbearable pain that prevents mobility. Medical professionals can offer you treatment, physical therapy or stretches you can do on your own.
One of the worst headaches
With headaches, it’s easy to just take a painkiller, apply cold compressions or drink herbal tea. However, medical professionals claim that if you’re experiencing one of the worst headaches of your life, then it’s wise to seek help. More often than not, it could be a flu, lack of caffeine or water, or a stress headache, but it can also be a brain hemorrhage, aneurysm or a tumor. That doesn’t necessarily mean all headaches can be dangerous. Unless you’re sure of a reason for your headache, there’s no harm in getting it checked.
Lower back pain
If you experience pain in your lower back, between your ribs and hips, and that pain is alternating between dull and sharp, then it’s better to get it checked. Especially if that pain is coupled with vomiting, a fever, and painful urination or diarrhea. This can indicate an infection in your kidneys, and if untreated, it can be life-threatening. Back pain without any other symptoms could be a sign of the disk due to bad posture. Seek professional help if your pain persists.
Severe leg cramps
Leg soreness is a type of pain that should always be taken seriously. If you start cramping around the calf or thigh, it could be a sign of a blood clot or vein thrombosis (DVT). When blood clots are formed, they cause pain and inflammation in the leg, especially after long periods of immobility. Left untreated, blood clots can travel to your lungs or other organs and prevent ordinary blood flow. Seek medical help to treat blood clots early along to avoid organ damage.
Heart disease differs from man to woman
One of the common misconceptions is that men and women suffer from heart disease in the same way. On the contrary, men are the ones who face the standard chest and arm pain that comes with heart disease, while not all women do. If you suffer from shooting pains up and down your arm, and neck along with nausea, shortness of breath and chest pains, it’s advisable to immediately seek medical attention. However, in women, a heart attack masks itself as stomach pain, or can be called the painless heart attack and only give you symptoms of shortness of breath and nausea.
Pain in the lower right abdomen
Sharp pain in your right gut coupled with fever and vomiting could be a sign of appendicitis. It’s advisable to immediately head to the ER if faced with this type of pain because a burst appendix could lead to an infection.
No need to tough it out
There comes a time when you don’t have to be strong and tough it out. Seeking medical attention for strange pain doesn’t mean you’re weak or that you’re a hypochondriac. It’s always better to be safe than sorry as many terrible diseases or medical conditions are actually masked by ordinary aches and pains.