Over 20% of adults in the United States suffer from chronic pain. This can lead to limited mobility, disruptions to your daily activities, and high healthcare bills. 

But where is the cutoff between acute pain and chronic pain? How do you know when it’s time to look for professional and specialized help?

Well, there are a few telltale signs that it’s time to seek chronic pain syndrome treatment.

Do you want to know what they are? Keep reading to find out!

Pain Has Been Occurring Long-Term

Chronic pain is pain that is long-term.  Generally, if you’ve been experiencing pain for a few weeks or months, it’s time to see a pain specialist.

This doesn’t have to be constant, either. Many people experience pain that comes and goes. Oftentimes, they’ll hold back on seeing a professional because they believe their affliction will go away on its own.

However, this is still considered to be chronic pain, and you should make an appointment with a doctor as soon as possible.

You’ve Recently Sustained an Injury

Sometimes the reason you’re having pain isn’t obvious. If you’ve recently sustained an injury and the pain is not resolving, you should seek care for your pain immediately.

Even a simple fall can cause injuries, especially if you have osteoporosis. Oftentimes, problems can get worse if not treated quickly. So, make sure any underlying injuries are looked at by a professional.

You’re Constantly Taking Over the Counter Medications

What’s the first thing you do when you feel a headache coming on or wake up with back pain? If you’re like most, you probably grab for the over the counter pain medications.

While this is fine to do this occasionally, you should not be relying on over the counter medications to treat chronic pain. About 60,000 Americans are hospitalized every year due to acetaminophen (the active ingredient in Tylenol) overdose. In 2016, this even resulted in 360 deaths.

When you see a professional, they can better manage your pain through different types of therapies.

You’ve Tried Natural Remedies with No Luck

People with chronic pain often seek out alternative treatments when over the counter medications aren’t cutting it. This can include things like acupuncture, chiropractic care, massage, and even hypnosis.

These techniques are often used in conjunction with pain medication with great success. But if it seems like you can’t find relief no matter what you try, you should seek help.

A professional can better create a treatment plan for you that combines medication, natural treatments, and even a special anti-inflammatory diet to help manage your pain.

It Affects Your Work Performance

Do you often call out sick because of pain? Or maybe you drag yourself into work only to spend the entire day distracted due to your pain. Your boss may even have pulled you into their office to talk about your performance lately.

If you notice that pain is affecting your work performance, don’t hesitate to seek treatment. 

You’re Canceling Plans

Most people look forward to spending time with friends and family. However, if you’re canceling plans or leaving early due to pain, you should consider seeing a professional.

The same is true if you decide to see your loved ones but end up not enjoying yourself because you’re in too much pain. This is another example of how pain can disrupt your daily life, and it’s a sign that you should seek treatment.

You Have Difficulty Sleeping

Sleep is a vital function for humans. This is the body’s chance to repair itself and let you wake up feeling refreshed and ready to tackle the day.

Not getting enough sleep could result in increased stress, impaired memory, poor mood, and lack of alertness. 

When you experience chronic pain, falling and staying asleep can be difficult. You may toss and turn and then find yourself waking up throughout the night because you’re in pain.

Your Range of Motion Is Limited

Do you experience pain every time you turn your head too far to the left or bend over to pick something up? If so, you know how difficult this can make things. In fact, daily tasks like cleaning or shaving your legs can become unbearable.

If you ever experience pain that is disrupting your daily life, see a doctor immediately. With the right treatment, your pain should be managed so you can continue to go about your life as normal.

Your Doctor’s Treatment Isn’t Working

If you’re experiencing pain, your first step will be to see your primary care doctor. They’ll likely put you on prescription medications and give you additional tips to help manage pain.

However, if you’ve been on your doctor’s treatment plan for a few weeks and it isn’t working, you should pay another visit to your doctor. They can refer you to a specialist who will have a greater understanding of your condition.

Depending on your individual situation, they may order tests, try a different medication, or suggest certain therapies to help manage pain or even prevent it completely.

When to Seek Chronic Pain Syndrome Treatment

Don’t settle for a life full of pain. Instead, follow the guide above to help you decide when it’s time to seek chronic pain syndrome treatment.

Are you ready to get help from a team of professionals? Then schedule an appointment today at our pain management center in Rogers.

Hints of spring are in the air, which inevitably leads to thoughts about fresh new starts. It’s the perfect time to think about a new diet. You’re probably well aware of the obvious benefits of changing your diet: looking good, higher self-esteem, better heart health. But did you know that your diet can cause other forms of relief?

If you have a condition that causes inflammation, your body is working overtime to flush out foreign toxins. While this is good for you overall, it also causes discomfort. Medication and other treatments are important, but many experts say that adopting an anti-inflammatory diet may help, too. An anti-inflammatory diet is not a fad. In fact, many doctors recognize its health benefits, so even if it doesn’t help with your condition, it can help lower your chances of having other problems.

What to Eat:
Anti-inflammatory foods are those that any mainstream nutrition expert would encourage you to eat.

Fruits and veggies: Go for variety and lots of color. Research has shown that broccoli and cabbage, as well as vitamin K-rich leafy greens like spinach and kale, can reduce inflammation. And the substance that gives fruits like cherries, raspberries, and blackberries their color is a type of pigment that also helps fight inflammation.

Whole grains: Oatmeal, brown rice, whole-wheat bread, and other unrefined grains tend to be high in fiber, which helps with inflammation.

Beans: They’re high in fiber, plus they’re loaded with antioxidants and other anti-inflammatory substances.

Nuts: They have a healthy kind of fat that helps stop inflammation. (Olive oil and avocados are also good sources.) To prevent calories from adding up, stick to just a handful of nuts a day.

Fish: Plan to eat it at least twice a week. Salmon, tuna, and sardines all have plenty of omega-3 fatty acids, which fight inflammation.

Herbs and spices: In addition to flavor, they add antioxidants to your food. Turmeric, found in curry powder, has a strong substance called curcumin. And garlic curbs the body’s ability to make things that boost inflammation.

What not to Eat:
Anything highly processed, overly greasy, or super sweet isn’t a good choice for you.

Sweets, cakes and cookies, and soda: They’re not dense in nutrients, and they’re easy to overeat, which can lead to weight gain, high blood sugar, and high cholesterol (all related to inflammation). Sugar causes the body to release inflammatory messengers called cytokines. Anti-inflammatory diet experts often say you should cut out all added sugars, including agave and honey.

High-fat and processed red meat (like hot dogs): These have a lot of saturated fat, which can cause inflammation if you get more than a small amount each day.

Butter, whole milk, and cheese: Whole dairy products are also high in saturated fat.

French fries, fried chicken, and other fried foods: Cooking them in vegetable oil doesn’t make them healthy. Corn, safflower, and other vegetable oils all have omega-6 fatty acids. You need some omega-6s, but if you get too much, you throw off the balance between omega-6s and omega-3s in your body and end up with more inflammation.

Coffee creamers and margarine: Trans fats (look on the label for “partially hydrogenated oils”) raise LDL cholesterol, which causes inflammation. There’s no safe amount to eat, so steer clear.

Diets tend to go in hand with exercise, so as the weather warms up, take advantage of the chance to go outside more. As always, consult your physician on everything you do for your comfort.