Are you having back pain? Acknowledging that you have back pain is great. Your back hurts a lot. You're so used to this pain by now that you don't even notice it anymore with your busy schedules in New York. But then suddenly, a shooting pain shoots up from your waist, and you remember how much back pain sucks. What just happened? Why does it hurt? Is it getting worse?
It can be hard to tell when a nagging pain in your back has transitioned into a chronic back problem affecting your everyday life.
However, many people who experience back pain without pain management treatment can go on to have chronic pain that lasts many years and has long-term implications on a sufferer's life.
Don't let back pain run its course until it has gone chronic. This article is for those of you who are experiencing back pain. Find out what you can do to keep it in check, how you can tell if your back pain has gone chronic, and why help from New York pain management can be your long-term solution.
Chronic Back Pain
Back pain is a common condition that can be very painful, and it can be extremely frustrating. You're likely to experience it at some point during your life; for many, it can be a recurring problem. When you have back pain that goes chronic, it's not just the pain that becomes a problem, but the whole way you live your life is affected.
If you've had pain for that long, you know how miserable it is to have such a basic component of your life be so unpredictable and awful. But how can you tell if you already have chronic back pain?
That's why we're giving you a list of warning signs that all point toward chronic back pain, so you can catch any early signs that your back is becoming more and more of a problem and start getting help before it becomes too much of an issue.
The following are the most common signs your back pain has gone chronic:
The pain has been going on for three months or longer.
Chronic pain is a term used to describe pain that lasts more than 12 weeks. The thing about chronic back pain is that it can sneak up on you and then stay with you for a long time if you don't catch it right away. It's easy to look at the beginning of your back pain and think, "Oh, this is just a bad back—I'll be fine in a few days." But when your back pain gets worse every few days or weeks, it's probably already gone chronic. So get help from a pain management specialist as early as you feel the first symptom of back pain.
It gets worse every few days or weeks.
Chronic back pain, by definition, is not going away anytime soon with simple treatments, and the longer you go without finding a solution, the greater the chance of you remaining in pain for a long time. The problem with waiting is that every day you wait to see whether your pain will subside means one more day of sitting through increasing discomfort (and possibly additional injury). At first, it might have been just a twinge, but now it's constant and getting worse. Waiting even one more day could mean spending the next months recovering instead of getting on top of things immediately.
You have new symptoms.
Back pain must be dealt with and managed like any other kind of pain. You need to pay attention to symptoms and treat them as they come. One of the signs that your back pain has gone chronic is that you don't notice it doing anything weird anymore, that your back has just gotten used to hurting all the time, so it doesn't stand out. This could mean that other things have happened to your body below the pain level, or it could mean that something else is wrong with your body in addition to the original cause of your back pain problems.
It has spread to other parts of your body.
It's said that the back is the nucleus of the entire body, and when things go wrong in your back, it can significantly impact how you feel over the long term. The back is a complex system with multiple muscles, bones, and joints responsible for supporting your frame, so it's not surprising that when something goes awry in your spine, there can be widespread effects.
In some cases, back pain will radiate down into your legs or arms. You might think that once your back goes out, it's only a matter of time until you're bedridden. While it is possible for your back pain to be so severe that you need help getting around, this is not necessarily a sign of an incurable problem. Sometimes it could mean that the problem causing your back pain has spread. Like in many cases, it only means that there is nerve involvement in the original area.
However, if the pain radiating down your arm or leg becomes more intense than what you feel in your back, or if you start feeling discomfort in places other than your back, it may be a sign that something more serious is happening. So, first and foremost, don't ignore the signs! Even if you are prepared for the worst-case scenario and know that this is all just par for the course with chronic back pain, there could be something else going on as well. See a pain management specialist to relieve the pain and prevent it from worsening.
Your pain feels different in the morning than it does at night.
When you first wake up, it may be dull. And when you start moving around, your body releases enzymes that loosen up the joints and muscles, causing them to feel better. But as the day goes on and you're on your feet or running around all day, these enzymes wear off, so your pain comes back. By the end of the day, though, it might be so intense that you can't sit or stand without wincing in pain. How your pain feels at various points during the day is important because it may be an early warning sign that your back pain has gone chronic—or at least that you're heading in that direction.
Your pain levels increase or don't decrease with self-care.
You've probably tried some treatments to help relieve it. But if you have tried taking pain medications and other self-care treatments that don't help your pain levels decrease, or if they started out working but now aren't having an effect, it could mean that your back pain has gone chronic. The same goes for if you have tried different treatment types, but none of them have brought you results for long. It doesn't mean that nothing will. It simply means you've been doing the wrong things, or perhaps not enough of the right things.
If you've been relying on self-care to treat back pain for a long time, it's time to consult with a pain management professional. Over time, depending on how bad your back pain is and whether or not you're doing everything you can to manage it properly and effectively, your symptoms may progress in intensity or scope. The longer you wait, the more likely your pain is going to get worse. It's time to consider seeking help from an expert seriously.
Your lifestyle suffers because of the discomfort.
Chronic back pain can be a real bummer. But it's even more of a bummer when it spreads to other parts of your body, making it hard to do the things you love and harder to live your life as normally as possible.
If your back pain has gone chronic, it's having an impact on your quality of life. Chronic pain can make it difficult to do things that were once easy, like bending down or getting dressed in the morning without help from another person. For instance, you stop working out, sacrifice social events and avoid certain activities because of the discomfort.
You're not as active as you used to be. You feel tired all the time because you're in constant pain and too tired to get anything done, affecting your energy throughout the day. You may also notice that your mood swings are getting worse as well as other symptoms and can lead to anxiety or depression if left untreated.
Don't Ignore The Signs! Get Help From A New York Pain Management Specialist
It's sad and can be a little scary when you've been chasing after a bad back for more than a few months. You might guess that it's just something you'll have to live with. But whether your back pain is acute or chronic, there are ways to find pain relief.
No matter how worse your back may be, you never know what future treatments or technologies may be available. The important thing is to listen to your body and seek out help as soon as possible if you are dealing with chronic back pain.
When it comes to chronic back pain, the key is treating it and preventing flare-ups. In order to keep your back feeling good, you have to stay on top of it. This means actively looking for new back pain symptoms and treating them before they become chronic issues. The first thing you should do if you think your back pain is worsening or has gone chronic is seek help from a pain management specialist. They will be able to tell how severe your pain is and how long you have been experiencing symptoms. Depending on the severity of your symptoms, they may recommend alternative treatments like physical therapy and interventional pain management procedures. The sooner you start treatment, the better your chance of getting relief from your symptoms.
Living with chronic pain is not always easy, but with the right pain treatment and preventive measures, you can find relief and a solution for your pain. Long-term pain management plans are available for those suffering from chronic pain, and there are many things you can do to help manage your symptoms.
Living a life without any type of back pain is possible. If you are looking for pain management services for your chronic back pain, contact our New York pain management center today to discuss your condition.
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