Assessing Pain And Treating It Correctly

There is no reason one should live with pain for years without seeking medical attention until they cannot get out of bed and have to resort to searching for a “physio near me” online to help them. But we are often met with first-time patients, who simply do just that because they didn’t know how severe their pain really was. And it’s due to inaccurate assumptions about healthcare in general, such as it being too expensive, not needed and only for serious problems. Pain is a significant issue that should not go ignored.

However, without professional knowledge and the expertise of physical therapy, you cannot truly decide whether you need medical attention. Although it may seem like an unnecessary and tedious exercise to visit a healthcare practitioner on a hunch, it may alert you to a worsening problem. These are some variants of pain you may be feeling, which do require you to book that appointment.

A Burning Sensation After A Workout 

Now, this is a pain we all are familiar with after a strenuous workout, and it usually disappears over a day or two afterwards. It’s a strange ache, that isn’t as painful as it is uncomfortable and tends to be manageable. However, if this pain seems to increase drastically and stays for longer than a few days, you should consider seeing a physiotherapist. Poor form and a lack of proper stretching can result in muscle tears that you hadn’t planned on.

The Dull Pain That Never Goes Away 

Perhaps you have had this pain for years and are even unsure how you got it in the first place, but it seems to be more of a persistent ache. It does not grow in terms of discomfort, but you also play it down mentally if you have battled with it for quite some time. Rather, speak to a physiotherapist to help completely relieve your pain and possibly alleviate it, instead of you having to just live with it in the future.

The Shooting Pain That’s Instantaneous 

This is a pain that has a sense of urgency attached to it as it rushes to the point of impact. And whether it’s from just running an errand or a race, this type of pain should never be managed without professional support. Not only can it be indicative of severe damage, but it can also quickly increase in severity and seriousness without you realising. Taking painkillers to try and go about your usual routine may work for a day or so, but this is not a healthy solution.

Many of us find that we have difficulty trying to evaluate the level of pain we may be experiencing. It’s not always as easy as diagnosing a toothache or gaping wound. Muscle and nerve damage may take time to accelerate. Inflammation is not always instantaneous, and sometimes we can’t see any physical signs of trauma, so we just assume it’s not a grave situation. But as we have reiterated throughout this article, pain can only accurately be assessed by a professional. At Cairnhill Physiotherapy, we can quickly help to alleviate your pain, call us today.