Signs It's Time to Deal With Your Pain

About 50 million Americans live with chronic pain, according to the CDC, with symptoms that last for months or years. While it may be tempting to “learn to live” with your pain, the result usually means more pain — and potentially significant effects on your physical and emotional health.

At Advanced Spine and Pain Center, our team offers various options for managing chronic pain, helping patients finally find the relief they need for healthier, happier, more comfortable lives. In this post, learn about six signs that indicate it’s time for you to take the next step toward managing your pain.

Your pain is interfering with regular daily activities

Many types of pain make walking, climbing stairs, lifting, sitting still, or performing many other day-to-day activities harder. When pain begins to interfere with your ability to perform these functions, it’s a sign that it’s time to seek medical help.

Your pain makes it hard to sleep

Sleep is essential for health, providing your body with the time it needs to heal and recover. If pain interferes with sleep, it can affect your physical and mental health in many ways. What’s more, loss of quality sleep can make your pain worse, leading to even more problems sleeping and creating a cycle that’s hard to break without medical treatment.

Your pain that’s affecting your emotional health

Pain isn’t just a physical problem. It takes a toll on you emotionally, as well, especially if it’s getting worse or interfering with other aspects of your life. Many people with unmanaged pain wind up dealing with chronic stress, anxiety, or even depression. Over time, these emotional effects can make it harder to remain productive at work or manage relationships and social obligations.

Pain that’s limiting your mobility

Some types of pain make it hard to enjoy physical activities alone or with friends. Hiking, biking, and other recreational activities lend a dimension to our lives that helps us release stress and stay connected. If your pain is making it harder for you to enjoy these activities, it’s time to call the office.

Pain that’s getting worse over time

If you have chronic pain, it’s not uncommon for symptoms to remain fairly stable over time. But eventually, those symptoms will almost certainly worsen, indicating a developing problem with your nerves, joints, or other components. Worsening pain should be treated as soon as possible to prevent serious problems that could require more complex treatments.

Pain that’s associated with a fever

Fever typically is a sign of an infection, but some types of cancer can also cause it. If a fever accompanies your painful symptoms, you need to seek a medical evaluation immediately to prevent any underlying problem from worsening.

You don’t have to “just learn to live” with pain

Even “minor” pain isn’t normal, and over time, it could cause more serious symptoms that affect your physical health and emotional wellness. Today, you have more treatment options than ever to help you find relief, including noninvasive and minimally invasive options with little or no downtime and quick recovery.

As with any health issue, the first step is scheduling an appointment to have your pain evaluated and learn about the chronic pain treatment options that can help. To find the relief you’re looking for, book an appointment online or over the phone with the team at our three locations in San Antonio, Texas, today.