Preventive health
01/25/2023

7 Signs of Pain You Shouldn’t Ignore

7 Signs of Pain You Shouldn’t Ignore

Everyone has pain once in a while, especially as we get older. A sore foot here, a muscle cramp there. That’s normal. But when the pain becomes more pronounced or lasts an extended period of time it can be a cause for concern. Also, if the pain limits your range of motion or occurs where you’ve had an injury or surgery before you probably want to get it checked out. It could be a sign of a problem so why not catch it early?

Following are seven places people feel pain (in no particular order) that you should have looked at by a medical professional if they are severe or linger.

1. The Abdomen

There could be many causes for abdominal pain. According to Mayo Clinic1, it could be as routine as gas pains, indigestion, or muscle strain. Or, it may be something worse such as an appendicitis. If it’s severe, moves to your back, and is accompanied by fever or nausea and vomiting, it might be acute pancreatitis. Regardless, if the pain is bad, medical organizations such as Rush University2 recommend you contact your doctor.

2. The Head

We’re not talking about your normal headaches. However, if you’re having them chronically, or you’re having one of the worst headaches you’ve ever had and you’re uncertain what caused it, WebMD3 says you should definitely get it checked out. Often, it’s nothing more than a bad sinus headache or a cold. But in rare instances, according to WebMD4, it can be a brain hemorrhage or brain tumor, both of which can be pretty dangerous.

3. The Lower Back

If you’re having pain in your lower back and you have a fever, it could be a kidney infection. If caught early, infections such as this can be treated with antibiotics according to Rush University5, and you can quickly recover. Some other signs of a kidney infection according to the American Kidney Fund6 include pain in one or both sides or your groin, having to pee more often than normal or feeling like you have to go even if you just went.

4. The Chest

There are many things that can cause chest pain, but a particularly dangerous one according to Rush University7 is a heart attack. If you experience pain in the center of your chest that lasts more than a few minutes, goes away and then returns, feels like pressure or squeezing -- call 911. If it is indeed a heart attack, treating the symptoms early could save your life. The experts at Rush University8 say other symptoms of a heart attack that may accompany chest pain include shortness of breath, sweating, or having your neck, jaw, or shoulders hurt.

5. The Calf

In most cases, that pain in your calf is a cramp from dehydration or a strain from a new activity or exercise. In rare instances, however, it may be something more serious: it could be deep vein thrombosis (DVT) according to Omron Healthcare9. This condition typically starts small and as it grows causes pain, swelling and sometimes warmth and tenderness in one calf. If the clot travels through your bloodstream, Omron Healthcare10 states that it can lodge in your lungs and lead to a pulmonary embolism, a very serious condition that can even be fatal.

6. The Big Toe

Stub your toe and it hurts for a couple of days. Have a flare-up of gout, a common type of arthritis that can strike just about anyone, and the pain is a big deal and lasting. Per Mayo Clinic11, an attack of gout can occur suddenly overnight and often starts in the big toe. It’s caused by a build-up of uric acid crystals in your joints from eating certain foods like red meat, alcohol and items with high fructose corn syrup. Gout won’t kill you but Rush University12 warns that left untreated it increases your risk of kidney stones and even kidney failure.

7. The Privates

If there’s pain, or an intense burning or tingling sensation when a man pees, it might be a urinary tract infection, a sign of Gonorrhea, or some other venereal disease per Rush University13. Left untreated, it can lead to complications such as infections or, in rare cases, spread to the blood or joints and be life threatening. The good news is the disease is easy to treat with antibiotics, says Rush University.14

The takeaway here is simple but important. When your body tells you it’s hurt, pay attention. In many instances, it’s something you can address easily with over-the-counter medicine and a good health regimen. But when the pain is severe or lasting don’t try to ignore the symptoms. Seek medical advice right away. Hoping the pain dissipates isn’t a good strategy and could lead to a serious medical challenge.

 

Sources

  1. “Symptoms of Abdominal Pain,” Mayo Clinic, last accessed November 16, 2022, https://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/abdominal-pain/basics/definition/sym-20050728?utm_source=Google&utm_medium=abstract&utm_content=Abdominal-pain&utm_campaign=Knowledge-panel
  2. “Pain You Shouldn't Ignore,” Rush University, last accessed November 16, 2022, https://www.rush.edu/news/pain-you-shouldnt-ignore  
  3. “7 Pains You Shouldn't Ignore,” WebMD, last accessed November 16, 2022, https://www.webmd.com/women/features/serious-pains
  4. “7 Pains You Shouldn't Ignore”
  5. “Pain You Shouldn't Ignore”
  6. "Kidney infection - Symptoms, Treatment and Prevention,” American Kidney Fund, last accessed November 16, 2022,
    https://www.kidneyfund.org/all-about-kidneys/other-kidney-problems/kidney-infection
  7. “Pain You Shouldn't Ignore”
  8. “Pain You Shouldn't Ignore”
  9. “Calf pain: symptoms, causes and treatment,” Omron Healthcare, last accessed November 16, 2022, https://www.omron-healthcare.com/eu/health-and-lifestyle/pain-management/body-aches-and-pains/calf-pain-symptoms-causes-and-treatment.html#:~:text=Is%20it%20deep%20vein%20thrombosis%3F
  10.  “Calf pain: symptoms, causes and treatment,”
  11.  “Gout Symptoms & Causes,” Mayo Clinic, last accessed November 16, 2022,  https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/gout/symptoms-causes/syc-20372897
  12.  “Pain You Shouldn't Ignore”
  13.   “Pain You Shouldn't Ignore”
  14.   "Pain You Shouldn't Ignore”